Asbestos was once a heavily used material, in commercial building projects. Asbestos is a strong substance that is stronger than steel. Asbestos is unaffected by heat, chemicals, and does not conduct electricity. All of these features made asbestos seem like a great building material.
However, throughout the years many health problems have been associated with asbestos. Asbestos is dangerous when breathed in, and can cause an inflammation in the lungs. Asbestos has also been associated with other forms of lung cancer.
Asbestos is no longer used due to these health concerns surrounding it. The only way to safely handle and detect asbestos is through a professional contractor trained to inspect asbestos. If you have an old commercial roof it would be a good idea to have a commercial roofing contractor inspect your roof for asbestos, and remove it if present.