The authors present a brief account of the use of asbestos from ancient times to the end of the nineties of the 20th century incl. legal regulations which in the Czech Republic severely restrict the use of products containing asbestos and prohibit completely the import of all asbestos from the group of amphiboles. Non-inflammable fabrics from asbestos were used already in ancient China and ancient Rome, ancient inhabitants of Finland prepared vessels from ceramic clay and asbestos. There are data on the use of asbestos wicks in the „ever-burning fire of the vestals“ and legends describe the use of marvellous non-inflammable fabrics in the middle ages. The 19th and the first two thirds of the 20th century are marked by a great expansion of the mining and use of asbestos in industry and the building industry. Only findings of the deleterious effect on health of man led at the end of the second millennium to a worldwide restriction of mining and use of all types of asbestos.

        Key words: asbestos - history - disease caused by asbestos.