6 Different Types of Asbestos

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6 DIFFERENT
TYPES OF ASBESTOS
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WHAT IS ASBESTOS?

Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally
occurring fibrous minerals chrysotile,
crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite,
and actinolite. Among these, chrysotile and
amosite asbestos are most common.

The strength of asbestos, combined with its
resistance to heat, allowed it to become the
material of choice in a variety of products,
including, but not limited to, roofing shingles,
floor tiles, ceiling materials, cement compounds,
textile products, and automotive parts. Asbestos
is now strictly regulated as exposure to this
toxic mineral can now be directly and
scientifically linked to a number of lung and
respiratory conditions including mesothelioma.
Although asbestos fibers are microscopic in
nature, they are extremely durable and resistant
to fire and most chemical reactions and
breakdowns. These properties of asbestos were the
reasons that supported its use for many years in
a number of different commercial and industrial
capacities.
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CLEAR ASBESTOS
6 Different Types of Asbestos
TREMOLITE ASBESTOS
ANTHOPHYLLITE ASBESTOS
AMOSITE ASBESTOS
ACTINOLITE ASBESTOS
CROCIDOLITE ASBESTOS
CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS
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Amosite Asbestos
The commercial production of amosite, or brown
asbestos, ended within the last decade and this
type of asbestos is no longer mined. It was at
one time, however, the second-most commonly used
form of asbestos and, as a result, many
individuals were exposed to it during its peak
use. Amosite was employed as insulation in
factories and buildings, as well as both an
acoustical and anti-condensation material. Its
use has been banned in most countries for
approximately the last 30 years.
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Chrysotile Asbestos
The most common type of asbestos, and only kind
that is still mined, chrysotile was the most
widely used in the worlds developed countries.
Estimates show about 90-95 of all asbestos that
remains in buildings in the U.S. and Canada is of
this variety. Because it was so widely used, it
accounts for the most health problems, though the
companies that mine it continue to attest to its
safety. Chrysotile is most often used in
fireproofing and insulation products and was
widely used aboard U.S. Navy ships during World
War II and the Korean War.
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Tremolite Asbestos
As an amphibole variety of asbestos fiber,
tremolite asbestos is associated with the
development of malignant mesothelioma and other
asbestos-related cancers. Like other varieties of
asbestos, tremolite asbestos is composed
predominantly of magnesium and can range from
off-white to a dark green in color. Tremolite
is particularly common in vermiculite deposits.
Tremolite-contaminated vermiculite was
responsible for the death of hundreds of miners
in Libby, Montana who worked at the W.R. Grace
Vermiculite Mine.
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Crocidolite Asbestos
Crocidolite asbestos accounted for about 4 of
all asbestos once used in the United States.
Crocidolite occurs in naturally-formed bundles
that are long, sharp, and straight. This blue
asbestos is harder and more brittle than other
types of the mineral and can break easily,
releasing dangerous needle-like fibers that are
easily inhaled. Crocidolite, without a doubt,
is the most lethal form of asbestos. It was often
used in making yarns and rope lagging, and as a
reinforcement material for plastics.
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Anthophyllite Asbestos
Anthophyllite asbestos, also known as brown
asbestos, is composed predominantly of iron and
magnesium. Its fibers are known to be long and
flexible. Of the amphibole subclass, brown
asbestos can be found in many talc mines and has
been associated with some respiratory disorders.
It is not conclusively associated with
mesothelioma as other varieties of asbestos are.
Because of its rarity, anthophyllite was not
often used in consumer products, but could be
found in some cement products and insulating
materials.
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Actinolite Asbestos
Actinolite asbestos is a variety of the
subclassification of amphibole asbestos and, as
such, its makeup and consistency is similar to
other forms of this subset. Made predominantly of
magnesium, actinolite asbestos is extremely rare
and ranges in color from white to dark brown.
Actinolite was not known to be used in asbestos
products because of its rarity, but is known to
be found in metamorphic rock. As with all forms
of asbestos, actinolite is a known carcinogen
that can cause mesothelioma cancer.
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Source

• http//www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/what
  -is-asbestos.htm
• http//bestasbestosremoval.com/danger-of-asbestos-
  comprehensive-guide/
• Google Image

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CLEAR ASBESTOS
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