Asbestos is a group of minerals that look like thin fibers. The word asbestos comes from the Greek language, meaning non-extinguishing or indestructible. These fibers are tiny and can only be seen under a microscope. Asbestos can be found in nature and in man-made products. In nature, asbestos is a mineral that is part of rocks and soil, and if it gets into the air (for example, weather or during construction) it can become a health threat. However, if natural asbestos "does not touch" and does not get into the air, it is practically harmless. The aim of this research is to show how harmful asbestos is in our environment and what are its advantages and disadvantages. Data collected over the years and then published on the website of the Croatian Institute of Public Health were used. The results of the research show that exposure to significant concentrations of asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (pleural cancer), asbestosis and various other pleural diseases. The results also show that it takes 15 to 40 years of exposure to asbestos fibers in the air for these diseases to develop.