Asbestos refers to a group of six types of minerals. Asbestos minerals are made up of durable fibers and are not used around heat, fire and many chemicals. Once called the "miracle mineral" for such properties, asbestos was used in many products, from building materials to fireproof protective gear. It is now known that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a dangerous cancer that affects the inside lining of the lungs, as well as other cancers and lung-related illnesses. All six types of asbestos minerals have common characteristics. All types of the mineral are odorless and tasteless. When asbestos is in a product, it cannot be seen by a visual examination and must be tested somewhere. These properties often make it hard to determine
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Asbestos minerals are divided into two categories: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos refers to asbestos made up of long curly fibers. This category only has one mineral called chrysotile also known as white asbestos. It was the most known used form of asbestos. Its flexible nature allows it to be used in products and combined with other elements. It was used throughout the U.S. and all over the world finding its way into products that still are hazardez today. Amphibole asbestos includes the other five asbestos minerals: Amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. Also known as blue asbestos These minerals are brittle needle-shaped fibers. Because of these properties amphibole fibers are more hazardous when breathed in by a person. However the same characteristics make it a bad candidate for use in commercial …show more content…
Asbestos was used as an ingredient in construction materials started during the industrial revolution. By the late 19th century, people around the world were operating large mines to meet a huge demand for the mineral. Manufacturers used most of the output from these mines to produce construction materials including asbestos cement and insulation for buildings and machinery. Finally in the 1970s the scientific evidence surrounding the dangers of the mineral became publicly accepted. In December 1977 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos-containing patching compounds and artificial fireplace ash products. A decade later on July 12, 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ban on most products, but this ruling was overturned two years later by a New Orleans court. Currently the EPA ban affects only flooring felt, rollboard and certain types of papers. Products today can be made with asbestos as long as it accounts for less than 1 percent of the product. Current products that have asbestos include brake pads, automobile clutches, roofing materials, vinyl tile, cement piping, corrugated sheeting, home insulation and some potting soils. Although products can still be made with small amounts of asbestos the regulations that control its use and manage its removal from older buildings are
Asbestos minerals are divided into two categories: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos refers to asbestos made up of long curly fibers. This category only has one mineral called chrysotile also known as white asbestos. It was the most known used form of asbestos. Its flexible nature allows it to be used in products and combined with other elements. It was used throughout the U.S. and all over the world finding its way into products that still are hazardez today. Amphibole asbestos includes the other five asbestos minerals: Amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. Also known as blue asbestos These minerals are brittle needle-shaped fibers. Because of these properties amphibole fibers are more hazardous when breathed in by a person. However the same characteristics make it a bad candidate for use in commercial …show more content…
Asbestos was used as an ingredient in construction materials started during the industrial revolution. By the late 19th century, people around the world were operating large mines to meet a huge demand for the mineral. Manufacturers used most of the output from these mines to produce construction materials including asbestos cement and insulation for buildings and machinery. Finally in the 1970s the scientific evidence surrounding the dangers of the mineral became publicly accepted. In December 1977 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos-containing patching compounds and artificial fireplace ash products. A decade later on July 12, 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ban on most products, but this ruling was overturned two years later by a New Orleans court. Currently the EPA ban affects only flooring felt, rollboard and certain types of papers. Products today can be made with asbestos as long as it accounts for less than 1 percent of the product. Current products that have asbestos include brake pads, automobile clutches, roofing materials, vinyl tile, cement piping, corrugated sheeting, home insulation and some potting soils. Although products can still be made with small amounts of asbestos the regulations that control its use and manage its removal from older buildings are