Almost everyone in our society has been exposed to some
asbestos fibres, but for most people the exposure and the risk is very small.
When asbestos is disturbed it forms a dust of tiny fibres and this dust can
easily be breathed in. Asbestos fibres can split down, reducing in size until
they are small enough to travel deep into the body where they pierce the lining
of the lungs. The body does not have a mechanism for removing materials from
this deep within the lungs and as the asbestos fibres are embedded in the
lining, they will remain in the body for the rest of a person's life. Asbestos
related diseases are caused by the inhalation or ingestion of these particles
of asbestos. The diseases caused by exposure include asbestosis, pleural
plaques, lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancer of the intestinal tract.
Bonded Asbestos Asbestos found in residential homes. It is made up of a bonding
substance, such as cement, and up to 15% of asbestos and is also commonly known
as Fibro, asbestos cement or AC sheeting.
American asbestos mines operated for more than 100 years before the last mine
closed in 2002. Consumption of asbestos in the U.S. peaked in the mid-1970s at
more than 800,000 metric tons — though global production of asbestos continues
at 2 million tons per year, driven by demand in developing nations where
asbestos insulation and cement are still commonly used.
What Is Asbestosis? Asbestosis is a lung disease that develops when asbestos
fibers cause scarring in your lungs. The scarring restricts your breathing and
interferes with the ability of oxygen to enter your bloodstream. Other names
for this disease are pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial pneumonitis. Many
cases originate from workplace exposure to asbestos before federal laws
regulating it were enacted in the mid-1970s. This disease takes years to
develop and can be life-threatening. The total number of asbestos-related
deaths in the United States may exceed 200,000 by the year 2030, according to
the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
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. Chrysotile Asbestos The most
common type of asbestos, and only kind that is still mined, chrysotile was the
most widely used in the world’s 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.
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.
Crocidolite Asbestos Crocidolite asbestos was rarely used and accounted for
only 1.3% of all asbestos ever 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 was only used in very limited, specialized applications, including
acidic or corrosive environments. 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. 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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