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What is Asbestos? Or Mesothelioma asbestosAsbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth. Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States . Although millions of Americans have been exposed to some amount of asbestos since the 1940's , there are particular fields where there is an increased risk of exposure. Particular fields where workers have increased exposure to mesothelioma causing asbestos includes: asbestos miners, shipyard workers, workers in the heating and constructions fields and the producers of other asbestos related products |