Asbestos

Asbestos is a group of fibrous, silicate minerals that are both toxic and carcinogenic and therefore considered a serious health and safety hazard. Asbestos was mined and used worldwide through most of the 20th century in building & roofing materials and for thermal, electrical and acoustic insulation applications. Whilst now banned in most of the western world, it is still mined and used in; China, Cuba, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia and some other countries.

There are different types of asbestos, the most common usually colloquially referred to by the colour of their fibers or raw form. In ascending order of toxicity, they are;

white - scientific name: chrysotile. This was the most commonly used asbestos in the majority of the western world and luckily the least toxic, often used for;
- sheet panels for ceilings
- pipe insulation
- floor tiles
- brake pads and shoes
- gaskets for high temperature equipment
- fire doors
- fireproof clothing
blue - scientific name: crocidolite. Often used for;
- corrugated asbestos cement roofing, sheets and pipes
- fire doors
- wire insulation
brown - scientific name: amosite. Often used for;
- fire retardant in thermal insulation products
- asbestos insulating board
- ceiling tiles
tremolite - often used for;
- construction materials
- insulation materials
anthophyllite - as above
actinolite - as above

Warning

Should you come across any kind of asbestos in your home or elsewhere, you should not disturb it in any way and seek advice from a suitable authority.

Short-term, high dose or long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres, released by mining, working with asbestos containing materials (breaking up, drilling, manufacturing, sanding, sawing etc.) or being exposed to damaged asbestos, can possibly lead to the following diseases;

asbestosis
lung cancer
malignant mesothelioma - an aggressive form of cancer

These diseases usually take many years (on average 20)¹ ² to appear. The following sections deal with these hazards in more detail. Note there are also benign abnormalities caused by asbestos inhalation that are not discussed in this article.

Effects of Exposure

Asbestosis

A chronic (1) lung disease caused by the scarring of lung tissue by asbestos fibers. This continues to progress even if there is no further asbestos inhalation. Asbestosis reduces lung capacity which leads to shortness of breath (dyspnea). Those affected are at increased risk of heart failure.³

frequent, ongoing, long term, extended (osteoporosis, cancer)

Lung Cancer

Often called asbestos-related lung cancer; a malignant tumour that originates in the tissues of the lungs.³ This is identical to lung cancer caused by other toxins, such as cigarette smoke.

Malignant Mesothelioma

An aggressive and incurable tumour that occurs 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic chest pain, cough, and weight loss. Most patients die within one year of diagnosis.³

Random Facts

Silicate minerals are rock forming minerals that make up approximately 90% of the earth's crust and are a significant component of the moon's lunar dust, soil and regolith.