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About Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is famous for its incombustible, heat resistant and fireproof properties. Asbestos has been used for many years in construction and other industries like insulation, ship building, automobile, and construction and cement industries. Asbestos has been mined for its advantageous effects such as high tensile strength, strong thermal and chemical stability as well as insulating property.
History of Asbestos
As a natural fiber, asbestos has been used since 2,000 years, was used in wicks of flames, funeral dresses for cremation of kings and napkins which were thrown into the fire for cleaning. Greeks were the first to mine this natural mineral which means “inextinguishable” or “unquenchable.” Egyptians used asbestos cloths to embalm their pharos or kings. Persians also used asbestos cloth to wrap their dead. In addition, asbestos has been called by several different names, for instance Romans called asbestos amiantus", means "unpolluted". Moreover, it was also known as ‘mountain leather, ‘incombustible linen,’ and ‘rock floss’.
Types of Asbestos
Asbestos can be divided into two forms depending upon its crystalline structure. Serpentine has curly fibers and a layered structure while Amphibole has straight, narrow and thin fibers. Asbestos is further categorized into following six different types:
- Chrysotile is a white curly fiber, present in layered form. It is obtained from serpentine rocks and is most frequently used in industrial capacity mud and texture coats, vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, roofing tars, countertops and pipes.
- Amosite is a straight fiber, found in brown or grey colored fibers, belongs to the amphibole group of asbestos. It is a very common type of asbestos that was used for different purposes such as cement sheet and pipe insulation. Amosite is very hazardous to human health and can lead to the development of mesothelioma.
- Crocidolite is a blue straight fiber which is present in the form of a sodium iron magnesium silicate. It is typically found in Africa and Australia. Crocidolite or blue asbestos is considered as the most dangerous type of asbestos which can cause serious health diseases. Crocidolite asbestos was used in making cement sheets and pipes for construction.
- Anthophyllite varies from white to grey and brown colors and was not often used industrially or commercially. It is associated with talc and other minerals and can occasionally be found in certain vermiculites.
- Tremolite is a calcium, magnesium, iron silicate which is found in white to grayish green colors. It could be found in products like talcum powders in limited amounts.
- Actinolite resembles to tremolite but actinolite contains more iron than tremolite and appears as dark green crystals or fibrous bundles. It was not often used industrially or commercially. Airborne actinolite fibers can easily be inhaled and can cause serious damage to the lungs.
Harmful Effects of Asbestos
Today, asbestos is well known for its hazardous effects which can lead to much serious health concerns such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. When asbestos fibers become airborne, they can easily be inhaled or swallowed and become deposit in the lungs for long periods of time. Once the fibers enters the body, many serious and chronic local inflammation occur which leads to the development of asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Uses of Asbestos
Asbestos can be used for a variety of purposes, specifically in duct and pipe insulation, insulation in buildings, along with ceiling and wall panels. This toxic mineral was used in thousands of products, was prominently used in steel mills, power plants, chemical plants, factories, shipyards, brake linings and pads, construction and demolition, flooring tiles, patching, spackling, roofing materials, furnaces and telephone industry.
Individuals who worked in shipyards, construction industries, and mechanics have been exposed to the asbestos and have become victims of mesothelioma. The use of asbestos in aerosol containing products was banned in 1973 and later other asbestos containing products were also banned.
Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Diseases?
Asbestos has been proven to be the cause of serious health concerns such as mesothelioma asbestosis and pulmonary fibrosis. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos are at great risk for developing asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma (http://mesoblog.org/). Those who have been simply exposed to the clothing of those worked frequently in asbestos jobsites are also at high risk for being developed with mesothelioma.
Asbestos Management
Anyone who worked in asbestos jobsites such as industries, factories, plants and other places where asbestos is handled should wear protective clothing to avoid the contact of asbestos fibers through clothing. These protective wear should only be used for asbestos management to avoid affecting other people and places where asbestos is not present. Besides this, people should have to be aware of this carcinogen and its deadly consequences and they should be informed about how they can avoid inhaling this deadly carcinogen.
