Types of Asbestos
Asbestos is a general term for six separate forms of naturally-occurring fibrous mineral silicates. Historically, only three of these forms have been used commercially, and today only one, chrysotile (white asbestos) is still in use.
The six asbestos types of asbestos are categorized into two separate groups: serpentine, with a layered form and curly light fibers, and amphibole, with straight sharp fibers and a chain-like structure. Amphiboles are considered the most dangerous types and the leading culprit of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.
The serpentine asbestos group has just one member: chrysotile (white asbestos).
The amphibole asbestos group consists of amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos - 90-95% of all asbestos mined and in use has been the chrysotile variety. And because of its pervasive use, it is also the leading cause of asbestos-related health problems, including mesothelioma. Canada and Russia are the only major chrysotile producers left today.
Chrysotile fibers are long and curly in comparison with the sharp, needlelike amphiboles. Soft and fibrous, chrysotile is most often used in insulation and fireproofing products and can also be woven into asbestos textiles and is used in the manufacture of cement in the form of sheets, shingles, and pipes. This type of asbestos is also used in a number of friction materials such as brake shoes, disk pads and clutches. Many types of textiles such as high temperature aprons, tapes, and welding blankets are still made with chrysotile.
There is a concerted effort on the part of the chrysotile industry to portray white asbestos as completely safe. The chrysotile industry is based primarily in Canada, which exports the vast majority of its product oversees to developing nations with lax safety standards. Over 60 nations, including those of the European Union have banned chrysotile. It is still legal in the United States, despite being heavily regulated.
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Amosite
Amosite, or “brown” asbestos is a commercial term derived from an acronym of where it was originally mined, the AMOSA Mine in South Africa. (A)sbestos (M)ines (O)f (S)outh (A)frica + -ite. Amosite is characterized by its distinctive shades of tan and brown. At one time amosite was the most commonly used forms of asbestos after chrysotile.
Because of its high heat resistance, amosite was commonly used as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products. Amosite asbestos is also the second most deadly form of asbestos after crocidolite, and is a known cause of serious asbestos related diseases including mesothelioma. Amosite and the other amphiboles were banned in most of the Western world by the mid-1980s, and by Japan in 1995.
Crocidolite
Crocidolite is considered the most hazardous forms of asbestos. Colored blue by iron, crocidolite has brittle spear-like fibers that break from the host easily and are difficult for the body to expel once inhaled or swallowed, a condition that can eventually lead to
asbestosis or mesothelioma. Crocidolite has an amazingly strong tensile strength, lending higher durability and flame retardant properties to whatever it was added to. Crocidolite was used mainly in spray-on fireproofing, thermal insulation and rope lagging.
Tremolite
Tremolite is an amphibole form of asbestos that is generally found as a contaminant to other minerals, and is not used commercially. Tremolite is considered a highly dangerous form of asbestos. Like the other amphiboles, tremolite fibers are extremely small, sharp, and easily embedded into the lining of the stomach and heart when inhaled or swallowed. The resulting scarring and irritation of asbestos fibers can, over many years and decades lead to mesothelioma cancer.
Tremolite asbestos is most closely associated with the tragic story of Libby, Montana. The people of Libby were exposed to high amounts of tremolite contaminating a vermiculite ore mined near the town for six decades. Many hundreds of townspeople lost their lives to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseased due to the negligent actions of the W.R. Grace Company, which owned the mine.
Actinolite
Actinolite is a rare form of asbestos from the amphibole group that is not used commercially, and generally appears only as a contaminant to other minerals.
Anthophyllite
Anthophyllite is a rare form of asbestos from the amphibole group that is not used commercially, and generally appears only as a contaminant to other minerals.
Mesothelioma attorneys have led the fight against all forms of asbestos
If you have been exposed to any of the above forms of asbestos and have developed mesothelioma as a result, you do have rights under current
asbestos laws. But there are statutes of limitations for filing a
mesothelioma lawsuit. Please don’t wait – get the help you need by getting connected to a
mesothelioma attorney today.