What is Asbestos?

The term Asbestos refers to a group of 6 naturally occurring minerals.

Asbestos is characterised by the fibrous nature of the materials. The minerals are split into 2 specific groups -

• Amphibole - Short, straight, needle like fibres

• Serpentine - Long, curly, flexible fibres  

Chrysotile (White Asbestos) is the most common type of Asbestos in the United Kingdom. Chrysotile is the only asbestos mineral in the Serpentine family.

Amosite (Brown Asbestos), Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos), Anthophyllite, Actinolite and Tremolite are all Amphibole asbestos types.

Types of Asbestos

Although Asbestos is now outlawed in the UK, it is still present in many locations and is responsible for around 5000 fatalities annually in the UK. It's critical that you are knowledgeable about the hazards involved. Especially, if you plan on carrying out renovation or maintenance. Any structure constructed before the year 2000 in the UK may contain Asbestos. Therefore, while working on pre-2000 properties, you run a higher risk of coming across Asbestos.

WHAT KINDS OF ASBESTOS ARE THERE?

Six distinct minerals from two mineral families, Serpentine and Amphibole, are regarded as Asbestos. All types of Asbestos are very harmful to health, and exposure can cause the onset of several fatal conditions including Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. The three primary forms of Asbestos are:

Chrysotile (White Asbestos). The most common kind of Asbestos is Chrysotile or White Asbestos. Chrysotile fibres typically have a fine texture, are very flexible, and have exceptional heat resistance qualities, making them perfect for usage in cement products such as roof sheets and brake pads and high friction linings.

Amosite (Brown Asbestos). Amosite is a very robust and heat-resistant type of Asbestos that was mostly mined in Africa and was frequently used in insulation products and insulating boards and panels. Although all forms of Asbestos are dangerous, exposure to Amosite Asbestos carries a disproportionately greater risk of to health.

Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos). Very fine fibres of Crocidolite are easily stuck in the lungs after inhalation. Crocidolite is considered by some to be one of the most dangerous types of Asbestos because of its fragile makeup and tiny fibres, which make it easy to break down (highly friable) and expose people to the harmful Asbestos fibres.

You may also hear about three other lesser known varieties of Asbestos. Actinolite, Tremolite, and Anthophyllite. Although they have never been offered for sale commercially they are often located in products either as a contaminant in a product or alongside other Asbestos types. They were often discovered, however, as impurities in commercially available Asbestos products.

Tremolite Asbestos is frequently present in paints, sealants, insulation goods incorporating Asbestos, and talc products. It is practical since it can be spun and woven into cloth and appears in a variety of colours, including white, green, and grey.

Actinolite fibres are thin and typically have a dark colour. It frequently appears in paints, sealants, and drywall and can take a variety of shapes, such as brittle and fibrous or thick and compact. Actinolite also expands when heated, making it a useful material for insulation. This characteristic has made actinolite a popular material for insulation and structural fireproofing.

Anthophyllite fibres are frequently detected as contaminants in composite flooring. Despite being regarded as non-commercial, Anthophyllite was frequently utilised in talcum powder and other goods that used talc and vermiculite. Despite the fact that the majority of research indicates that Anthophyllite has a far lower risk of developing mesothelioma than Amosite, Chrysotile, and Crocidolite Asbestos, there is still a strong correlation between the two.

OUR OFFICES CAN ASSIST WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ASBESTOS-RELATED WORKS -

• Asbestos Surveys near me

• Asbestos Removal near me

• Asbestos Sampling near me

• Asbestos in Soils near me

• Re-Inspection and maintenance near me

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