Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fiber, was once heavily used in construction due to its numerous desirable attributes including resistance to heat, fire and chemicals as well as its durability and affordability. However, over time it was discovered that asbestos was also extremely hazardous to human health causing numerous lung diseases including the deadly mesothelioma. As a result, its use in construction was banned in the UK in 1999. Despite this ban, asbestos can still be found in many older buildings; especially those built before the 1980s, posing a significant risk to those exposed to it.