Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral which is extremely resistant to heat. This property makes it an ideal insulating material and that is why it was widely used industrially and domestically before its dangers were known. Some uses included insulation / fireproofing, cement products, tiling and friction materials, e.g. brake and clutch linings. Its fibrous nature meant it could be woven like cotton to produce clothing and so it was used in the textile industry to manufacture protective gloves, blankets, suits etc.

The two main types of asbestos fibres are serpentine and amphibole. Serpentine fibres, as the name suggests, are curly and flexible. Chrysotile (white) asbestos is found in this form. Amphibole fibres are needle-like and stiff. They include tremolite, amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue). Crocidolite is the most dangerous type of asbestos and can cause mesothelioma. It is so dangerous because it is resistant to destruction by the body’s defence cells.

Asbestos Related Diseases

There are five known diseases that can be caused from asbestos exposure. In order of increasing severity these are pleural plaques, pleural thickening, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.