The asbestos resources in Turkey should be exploited in a carefully planned manner for two reasons: (1) to minimize the health hazards associated with the mining and processing of asbestos, and (2) to avoid wasteful exploitation for the sake of making profit. Its consumption should be optimized by using it for the critical applications only, where its unique properties are essential. Turkey's asbestos resources and alternative minerals to asbestos should be exploited to assist in its economic development. However Turkey must control the environmental and occupational hazards associated with the production of these commodities if it is to avoid the loss experience of other developed countries. The hazards associated with the use of asbestos in many noncritical applications have raised the demands for substitute materials which are less hazardous. Turkey is in a position of developing and marketing many of the substitute materials by exploiting some of its industrial minerals.