People have used asbestos a long time.  One of its earliest known usages was in Egypt.  The queen would amuse guests by tossing an asbestos woven table cloth into the fireplace.  The table cloth would not burn but all the food and drink stains would disappear leaving the table cloth like new.

Today most products made do not contain asbestos. Those few products which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1980’s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in buildings contained asbestos. Common building products that might have contained asbestos in the past include: 

       Steam Pipes                       Boilers                                      Furnace Duct Tape
       Resilient Floor Tile             Vinyl Sheeting (linoleum)        Adhesives or Mastics
       Cement Sheet                    Millboard                                  Door Gaskets
       Door Caulking                    Window Frame Caulking          Window Glazing Putty
       Soundproofing                   Ceilings Popcorn Texture         Patching, Joint Compounds
       Textured Paints                  Asbestos Cement Roofing        Roofing Shingles and Siding
       Underground Water Pipe   Fireproofing                             Mirror Mastic
       Fire Doors                          Stage Lighting Cord                 Roof Penetration Mastic

There is only one way to positively identify asbestos, and that is analysis with special microscopes.                       

Building Owners

Where was Asbestos Used