what is asbestos used for

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. It has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant because of its fiber strength and heat resistance. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials such as roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products. Additionally, it has been used in friction products such as automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. Asbestos fibers were often used in many construction products such as cement, insulation, sealants, and vinyl floor tiles. Asbestos was also used in the making of fire-resistant clothing for firefighters and hot pads used in food production, as well as by the automotive industry. Although regulations enacted from the 1970s through the 1990s limited the use of asbestos, it is still not fully banned and is still commonly used in nations such as Russia, China, India, and Mexico.