Asbestos is a natural material made up of tiny fibers which can be easily airborne and inhaled when disturbed. This natural material comes from rocks, minerals, and gemstones found in many parts of the world such as Africa, Canada, and Australia among many other locations.

Asbestos has an unusual weakness to pressure resulting in dust-like particles. These broken down asbestos particles are invisible to the naked human eye and easily go airborne where human respiratory exposures typically result.

The use of asbestos was very popular in insulation, paneling, ceilings, concrete, and many building materials due to it's ability to resist acid and fire. It was also used in brake pads and shoes due to its ability to resist heat. Since the early 1960s, asbestos has been recognized as a serious health hazard. Inhalation of asbestos fibers has been established as the main cause of mesothelioma as well as of cancers of the lung, intestines, and liver. In 1972, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) began regulating asbestos and strengthening work safety standards. The regulating did allow installers to use up remaining stocks, so homes built as late as 1986 could still have asbestos in their ceilings.

In the United States, asbestos was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act of 1970. Asbestos liability and lawsuits claiming that asbestos caused plaintiffs' diseases is by far the largest issue facing the global insurance industry today. Due to the fact that exposure to the materials by itself is usually basis for a companies liabilty, a claiment can easily defend the fact that in most instances of exposure, symptoms do not result for upto 10 - 40 years.