Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in construction materials in the past. It was popular because of its heat-resistant properties, durability, and affordability. However, asbestos is now known to cause serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Therefore, if you have a building that was constructed before 1999, it's possible that asbestos might be present in some of the building materials. Unfortunately, asbestos is not always easily recognizable, and it requires specialized equipment and techniques to detect and remove it safely.