Asbestos in Vinyl Floor Tiles
Up until about 1980, vinyl flooring was a very popular choice for builders. This material, which is a polymer form of plastic, was easy to install and extremely cost effective. Vinyl floor tiles had excellent insulation properties, making them an ideal covering for bare concrete.
Asbestos fibers were routinely added to the vinyl floor tiles themselves as well as the mastic adhesive used to fix them in place.
Homes built prior to 1980 and have vinyl floor tiles installed are almost certain to have a potential asbestos problem. In many cases, these floor tiles have simply been covered up with a layer of carpet. Nonetheless, they may still present a health hazard if broken or damaged. This is especially problematic in public buildings such as schools where there is a high level of foot traffic.
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That said, if vinyl floor tiles are present in your home, you should know that as long as they are undamaged, they will most likely not present any immediate danger. The asbestos contained in these floor tiles was bound in the polymer matrix in a way that minimized the chances of such material becoming friable (able to release asbestos fibers into the air). Vinyl floor tiles should not be removed by anyone except a trained, certified asbestos contractor. 
Cleaning and care of undamaged vinyl floor tiles should also be undertaken with care. The University of Sciences in Philadelphia recommends that only low abrasion pads and wet methods be used in cleaning such floors. Buffing equipment should not exceed 300 RPM. Brushing and dry buffing can be performed only if there is a hard wax surface on the tiles in question.
While some states allow homeowners to remove asbestos-containing materials from buildings they own and in which they themselves primarily reside, such a "do-it-yourself" approach is out of the question for landlords and business owners. Federal and state laws are very clear on this matter. Those who attempt removal of vinyl floor tiles or any other type of asbestos-containing materials on their own are in violation of the Clean Air Act and several EPA and OSHA regulations. These violations are considered felonies under the law, and can carry a prison term of up to 5 years as well as fines up to $250,000.