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The term "Asbestos" describes a variety of naturally occurring fibrous minerals or rocks. There are two classifications of asbestos minerals the serpentine group, and the amphibole group. Chrysotile is classified in the serpentine group, while the amphibole group includes amosite, crocidolite, actinolite, tremolite, anthophylite and a number of other minor forms of asbestos. Actinolite, Tremolite, and Anthophylite have been used very sparingly in industry and are not often found in North American products. The three common forms of asbestos are Chrysotile (sometimes referred to as white asbestos), Amosite (sometimes referred to as brown asbestos), and Crocidolite (sometimes referred to as blue asbestos). Of the three common asbestos forms Chrysotile is by far the most prominent accounting for approximately 90% of world wide production and use. Amosite and Crocidolite are relatively rare and account for the remaining 10%. Asbestos mineral deposits are common in virtually all areas of the world. Asbestos is currently, or was previously mined, in many areas of the world, most notably in Canada, the United States, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Bolivia.
Asbestos has been known to man and used for centuries in thousands of applications and products. The ancient Greeks used asbestos to create incombustible textiles, and the Romans used it in their building materials. Specific fibre characteristics vary among the different forms of asbestos but generally asbestos fibres are incombustible, have high tensile strength, and have outstanding thermal, acoustical, and electrical insulating properties. As a result of these unique chemical and physical properties asbestos became a useful ingredient in a numerous commercial and industrial products.
The major commercial exploitation of asbestos did not occur until the discovery of the huge Chrysotile asbestos deposits in the province of Quebec in the late 1800's. By the year 1900, there were thousands of power looms producing asbestos textiles in England and the United States. The asbestos textile was used for insulation blankets, gaskets, and packing material. The textile industry was the primary user of asbestos until around 1930. Beginning in the mid 1940's, and over the next thirty-five years the asbestos industry diversified to include mechanical pipe insulations, cement products, plasters, gypsum board filling compounds, grouts, compressed papers, mill boards, floor tiles, sheet floorings, acoustic tiles, roofing felts, mastics, duct tapes and sealants, protective coatings, fireproofing, and numerous other products By 1969, thousands of asbestos containing materials were being manufactured and their presence on a building construction site was as common then as gypsum board or plywood are today. Asbestos fibrated construction materials became the industry standard, and were used in a multitude of building construction and industrial applications particularly where durability and/or fire resistance was required. Asbestos became known as the miracle fibre of the twentieth century. It has been estimated that asbestos has been used in over three thousand applications and products.
Asbestos fibres can divide both horizontally and longitudinally many times and ultimately end up as microscopic fibrils that are invisible to the naked eye. These microscopic fibers are extremely aerodynamic and can remain airborne for extended periods of time, hours or even days. Serious respiratory diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma have been associated with inhalation of asbestos fibres. A latency period of between 10 and 25 years is common between initial exposure and recognizable symptoms of asbestos related disease. There are three main diseases associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
Certain types of asbestos containing materials are considered more hazardous than others. The term "friable" describes a material that can be easily crumbled or pulverized by hand pressure. The asbestos fibres in "non-friable" materials are bound within a matrix, or are mixed with binder agents, and do not become airborne as easily as fibres in friable materials. In general the more friable an asbestos containing material is, the greater the potential for airborne fibre release. Regulatory agencies began implementing legislation that regulated asbestos exposure in the work place in the early 1970's. Over the years, additional information on the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure has resulted in numerous revisions of the safe handling of asbestos legislation to better protect workers, and building occupants. Asbestos control legislation ultimately caused a significant decline in the use of asbestos and aggressive research into the development of asbestos free substitutes.
The mere presence of asbestos in a building does not necessarily mean that the health of the occupants is endangered. As long as asbestos containing materials remain in good condition, and are not disturbed, exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is unlikely. Asbestos building products can become hazardous if they have the potential to becoming airborne due to natural deterioration, damage, or physical disturbance. Routine maintenance, housekeeping activities, renovations, and demolitions all have the potential of causing asbestos fibres to become airborne, unless strict asbestos abatement procedures are utilized. The safe handling of asbestos materials is a complicated procedure that must follow stringent regulatory board requirements. Asbestos abatement projects should only be performed by trained professionals who have the specialized equipment and experience to ensure worker, and building occupant safety by complying with the strict regulations, guidelines, and procedures established by the regulatory agencies.
View a list of asbestos containing products.
Click here to view a list of qualified professional asbestos abatement contractors.