What is Asbestos?

What is asbestos, the dangerous pollutant that causes asbestosis mesothelioma? “Asbestos” refers to a group of six minerals found in almost two thirds of the earth’s crust. Asbestos identification can only be performed with the use of specialized equipment.

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The term asbestos is derived from the Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable.

The group of asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibrous crystals. The ancient Greeks called asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its unique ability to withstand heat.

All forms of asbestos are composed of fibers with widths less than 1 micrometer, that occur in bundles and have very long lengths. This is called fibrillar, but asbestos identify with particularly fine fibers and is sometimes also called amianthus. So what is asbestos, other than the classification of minerals with a unique, crystalline fiber texture?

CHRYSOTILE , or “white asbestos”, Chemical Abstracts Service Classification No (CAS No.) 12001-29-5, is obtained from serpentine rocks. Serpentine is derived from the greek word meaning fine or silky hair as it consist of whitish curly fibers. Originating mostly from Canada it is used in 90% of asbestos products and roughly 95% of asbestos found in buildings in the USA. Chrysotile, along with other types of asbestos, has been banned in most countries and is only allowed in the United States and Europe for limited use.

AMOSITE , or brown asbestos, CAS No. 12172-73-5, is a amhibole, Commonly originating from South Africa, amosite became the trade name or acronym for that region’s asbestos mines. It has a straight by brittle texture. Forming part of the Grunerite series, it is most frequently used in fire retardant materials, thermal insulation products and also in ceiling tiles. Fine Amosite crystals are easily inhaled and causes the painful disease: asbestosis mesothelioma.

CROCODOLITE , or blue asbestos, CAS No. 12001-28-4 is also an amphibole. It also has straight fibrous fibers and forms part of the amphibole group: riebeckite. It originates primarily from Southern Africa, Australia and Russia.

TREMOLITE , also an amhibole, , CAS No. 77536-68-6,appears white and chalky in its rough form. What is in Tremolite asbestos? It has a crystal like structure made up of strongly bonded almost ribbon-like texture. It also comes in other forms.

ANTHROPHYLLITE , CAS No. 77536-67-5, also comes in the form of brittle and whitish fibers. What is asbestos anthrophyllite, is found mainly in a large range of construction- and insulation materials, as well as some consumer products. The industrial use of the amphibole, Antrophyllite, is less common than the other asbestos types.

ACTINOLITE , CAS No. 77536-66-4, is sometimes also called smaragdite. Apart from appearing in the amphibole form of asbestos fibers, it is also present in other forms.

Other minerals of the asbestiform group, such as winchite and richterite are found in vermiculate and zonolite products. What is in asbestos products of this nature, had been considered less harmful, but recent studies have proved that all asbestos fibers are harmful and should be controlled.

Amphiboles, have a more complex crystal structure than the serpentine asbestos group. Their brittle rods when inhaled by humans, stay in the lungs longer and the straight fibers are more likely to cause lung diseases. In fact, many mesothelioma lung cancer incidents could be blamed on very small contaminations of amphibole minerals within serpentine asbestos products.

To answer the question: “ what is asbestos? ” we plunge deeply into the world of chemical analysis. It is extremely extremely difficult merely from the rocks and products in which it is contained to tell what is asbestos. However, for the layman, the best option, is to leave doubtful material unmoved and to have professionals test for the presence of asbestos.

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