Breathing in air containing asbestos fibres can lead to asbestos related diseases. Past exposure to asbestos currently kills 3000 people a year in Britain. Only by preventing or minimising exposure to asbestos will asbestos related disease eventually be wiped out. What is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and fire resistant. It has also been used in household products such as ironing boards and oven gloves. Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Britain from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s. Why is asbestos dangerous? Most asbestos containing material in good condition is safe. Asbestos is only dangerous when it’s in a loose form, damaged, disturbed or worked-on as this can release the asbestos fibres into the air. If these fibres are breathed in over a long time, they may damage the lungs and can lead to very serious diseases, including cancer.   Where you may find asbestos: » gutters and pipes » floor tiles » garage and shed roofs » linings for walls, ceilings and doors » storage heaters insulation panels » bath panels » central heating flues » loose asbestos packing between floors and in partition walls Who’s likely to be harmed? Anyone who comes into contact with fibres can be at risk. The ones most at risk are people who carry out repair and maintenance work (e.g. cutting, drilling, sawing, ripping out materials) - they are more likely to disturb or damage asbestos containing materials, and often they don’t realise that they are working on asbestos.