Mesothelioma, a cancer that is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, is also known as asbestos cancer. "Asbestos" is a generic name given to a fibrous variety of six naturally occurring minerals that have been used for decades in the development of thousands of commercial products. The term is not a mineralogical definition, but a commercial name given to a group of minerals that possess high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and electrical resistance. These minerals have been used in many products, including insulation and fireproofing materials, automotive brakes and textile products, and cement and wallboard materials.   These minerals have a tendency to separate into microscopic-size particles that can remain in the air and are easily inhaled. Persons occupationally exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. The following web sites provide detailed information on asbestos: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/asbestos U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational  Safety & Health Administration: www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/asbestos Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts61.html National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts61.html The Asbestos Institute: www.asbestos-institute.ca/main.html Asbestos News: www.asbestosnews.com