asbestos cement

Asbestos cement is a construction material made from a hardened mixture of asbestos fibers, Portland cement, and water. It was commonly used in thin slabs for building components such as shingles, wallboard, and siding.1

Historically, asbestos was valued for its ability to separate into long, flexible fibers, leading to its incorporation into various building materials like insulation, roofing shingles, floor and ceiling tiles, and cement pipes. However, in the 1970s, it was discovered that prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers could lead to serious lung diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer. This led to a gradual ban on most asbestos products in the United States starting in 1989.2