Asbestos is not just a single mineral as asbestos is a blanket term that contains six individual minerals. These six unique minerals are all dangerous and can severely affect your health. Below, Asbestos Abatement Services will discuss the six types and where they are used.
Asbestos is comprised of two families, amphibole and serpentine. Each family has its own characteristics, and both are linked to cancer.
The Asbestos Family
Amphibole Is a family of asbestos that has fibers that are needle shaped. Studies have shown it takes less of amphibole asbestos to cause cancer. The most used types of amphibole asbestos are amosite and crocidolite. Tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite are types of amphibole asbestos, but not used commercially.
Amosite and Crocidolite
Amosite is a brown asbestos and second only to chrysotile in use. Amosite exposure puts people at a greater risk for cancer over other types of asbestos. Amosite is commonly in these products:
- Fire Protection
- Cement Sheets
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Gaskets
- Tiles
Crocidolite
Crocidolite fibers are very thin, allowing them to become lodged in the lungs and surrounding tissue. Crocidolite has been used in the following and is responsible for the most amount of asbestos exposure deaths:
- Insulation
- Fireproofing
- Ceiling Tiles
- Cement Sheets
- Acid Storage Battery Casing
Anthophyllite
Anthophyllite has not been used very much commercially but has been seen in insulation, rubber, roofing, and cement.
Tremolite and Actinolite
These two forms of asbestos are not used commercially, but trace amounts are seen when mining and can cause exposure.
Serpentine asbestos is made of snake-like fibers; they are curly and make of sheets of crystals. Chrysotile is used in over 95% of the world’s asbestos-containing materials. Many countries that have banned asbestos, still allow the use of chrysotile in controlled amounts.
Chrysotile
White asbestos, as chrysotile is also known, has been used in most asbestos-containing materials. While it is naturally occurring and often found with amphibole, it is not as toxic as amphibole. Chrysotile asbestos is still highly dangerous and has been known to cause severe illnesses like mesothelioma. Below are some products that have been known to contain asbestos:
- Drywall
- Adhesives
- Cement
- Brake Pads
- Fireproofing Materials
- Insulation
- Gaskets
- Tile
- Roofing
As you can see, all asbestos types are hazardous to your health. If your property has asbestos, contact a professional for removal services. If your home has never been analyzed for asbestos, now is the time!
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