The most serious type of asbestos is part of the chrysoltil class. Chrysotile comes from serpentine rocks that can be found all over the world. It is a curly fiber that has been banned in many countries. Today it can only be used in the U.S. and Europe for very limited uses. It has been used more than all of the other types of asbestos and has had many different applications.

Often, this type of asbestos is used in joint compounds because it is more flexible than other types of asbestos. It is the main type of asbestos found in buildings in The United States. It has been used in fabric, corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets, warehouses and garages, flat sheets for ceilings, floors and walls. In addition, chrysotile has been used for brake linings, fire protection cloth, floor tiles, rope sealers for boilers and pipe insulation. It has also been used in plaster, mud and texture coats, popcorn ceilings, caulk, clutch plates, fire blankets, fire doors and dental cast linings.

During the Industrial Revolution, the use of asbestos became widespread and was used in items like fireproof coatings, bricks, concrete, fireplace cement, gaskets, fireproof drywall, lawn furniture and many other applications.

Naturally-occurring asbestos can be found outside in the air and in some water that people drink. California has places that are known to have natural asbestos formations. They are found in 44 of the 58 counties in California and also in 19 other states. There is a known link between mesothelioma occurrences in patients living near rock deposits that likely have asbestos.

In El Dorado, California, there are natural asbestos formations close to the surface. An EPA sampling study found that many asbestos particles in the area met the criteria for chemical and morphological limits, but not for commercial type of asbestos. The study report that even particles that aren't commercial grade still pose a health risk to humans who live nearby.

In Fairfax County, Virginia, many places have been found to be ripe with tremolite, another form of asbestos. Fairfax county checked the air quality at union construction sites and the soil around the county. New development sites were required put down 6 inches of stable and clean material over the ground due to possible asbestos exposure.

The human eye cannot see most asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers cool and crystallize, making polymeric molecules that line up with each other and create crystal lattices. They have cleavage planes like other minerals. However, these two planes are much weaker than other minerals. They break easily when force is placed on them, making linear fragments and creating a fibrous shape. This means that a single fiber can be broken into hundreds of much smaller pieces, making them easy to inhale. Once inhaled, the fibers become trapped in the lungs, leading to health problems such as mesothelioma.

Asbestos can be found in many places throughout the world, including naturally-occurring substances, and can pose a health risk if the mineral becomes damaged or destroyed. Asbestos is also still found in many everyday items that consumers use.