A few common myths and misconceptions

If you have tried to search 'asbestos' or anything related on the internet, you are already aware of the heavily conflicting advice there is out there. Asbestos is dangerous, asbestos is safe, asbestos is one mineral, asbestos is many, to give you jsut two examples.

Much myth has been propogated by respectable organisations, perpetuating erroneous information they believe to be true. Both the ‘ban asbestos’ and ‘pro asbestos’ campaigns are equally to blame for the amount of incorrect information in the public domain.

Much of the confusion is due to the interchangeability of the term ‘asbestos’ for both the amphibole types of asbestos (blue and brown) and the serpentine type of asbestos (white).

Common myths and misconceptions:

1. “90% of asbestos deaths are from chrysotile (white asbestos)”:
Lobby groups have persuaded the European and UK authorities that if 90% of all asbestos is the white type (chrysotile) then 90% of all deaths are from this material. However, there is no evidence to support that chrysotile fibres have contributed to an asbestos related disease in anyone born after 1940.

2. “3500 people die each year from asbestos”:
This figure came from a flawed study into the effects of asbestos. Asbestos deaths were calculated using amphibole fibres (toxic brown asbestos, which makes up less than 10% of all asbestos use). The figures, however, were then used as representative for deaths caused by chrysotile (mild white asbestos, which makes up 90% of all asbestos use) resulting in a greatly inflated estimte of deaths.

3. “Chrysotile (white) asbestos is 100% safe”:
Despite no evidence to support a chrysotile asbestos related disease in the latter half of the century, there is also no such thing as a ‘zero risk material’. All materials if abused at significantly high levels can pose a threat to human health. However, the concentrations of asbestos fibres do not reach these significant levels in present applications, and it can be said that there is 'no measurable risk to health' from present day chrysotile.

4. “Serpentine asbestos is as dangerous as amphibole asbestos”:
Although there is no such thing as a ‘zero risk material’, there is also no evidence (apart from flawed research) to support that the only commercially used serpentine, chrysotile (white asbestos), is as dangerous as the sharp, lethal fibres of amphibole asbestos (blue and brown types).

5. “Use of chrysotile is detrimental to the environment”:
Much information was circulated in the late 1990s about the environmental impacts of chrysotile mining, use and disposal. It has since been shown that chrysotile is often more environmentally friendly that alternative materials. It is produced by low consuming energy procedures, has a long service life, and is a low pollution risk during manufacture as well as during storage and transportation. During its disposal, being a natural mineral it can also be returned to the environment.

6. “Chrysotile is being forced onto developing countries”:
White asbestos is one of the few materials that is affordable to developing governments and the benefits are enormous. It can be used for roofing material, water pipes, and construction products to radically help a country’s infrastructure. When compared to the death rates associated with contaminated drinking water and poor hygiene, potential risk (if any really exists) from white asbestos use are significantly dwarfed.

7. “Any replcement for asbestos has got to be better than asbestos itself”:
Asbestos materials have been banned without due care and consideration to their successors. Several of the replacement materials have subsequently been found to be associated with their own health risks. For example, both cellulose and wool dusts can induce pulmonary fibrosis.

These are just a few of the more common myths around. It is worth checking any information you are given about asbestos with an independent source if you are unsure of the actual facts; some companies may be wanting to exploit your ignorance. Having the correct facts at your disposal will make it easier to cope with the minefield that is surveys, asbestos removal quotes, legislation, or other similar circumstances.