Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous, silicate mineral that was widely used in construction materials from the 1950's until the 1990's. Because of it's tensile strength, it's insulating abilities, and it's resistance to fire and chemical erosion, asbestos was a commonly used component in building and construction materials. Asbestos is comprised of varying concentrations of 6 silicate materials, the most popular being chrysolite. Asbestos occurs naturally but can cause serious illness to people who are exposed in high amounts. There is little threat of asbestos overexposure when the material is left undisturbed, but when the material is cut, torn or damaged the particles can become airborne. The fibers from asbestos are not visible by the naked eye, therefore it is not possible to determine if an item contains asbestos or not without lab testing.