Abstract: Asbestos containing materials which have become friable and thus hazardous to health can be rendered non-friable by treatment with a lipophilic material, such as a triglyceride oil having non-polar or slightly polar characteristics. The method of the invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of asbestos-containing roofs which are friable and which, without treatment, would be required to be removed using the stringent, expensive protocol which is specified under the Federal Asbestos Abatement Guidelines for removal of friable asbestos roofs.