Asbestos is ready-made up of cardinal naturally occurring minerals that can be woven into fibers and are old in manufacturing and industrial applications because of its heat resistance. For example, brake pads can be made with asbestos. If it appears in nature, is it mordacious to me? Asbestos occurs in nature. Everyone breathes asbestos during the day, as part of the variety of things that make up the aerial we breathe, but it is a very, very miniscule amount. As well, asbestos can appear in water, but again, in very, very small amounts. In small amounts it is not dangerous. At greater levels though, it is more dangerous. It can either cause scar tissue to build up around the lungs and it has been found to be a carcinogen, potentially causing cancer if people are exposed to higher levels of it.