'Asbestos' is not actually just one mineral. It is a generic group name (based on similar fire resistant properties) covering 6 very different minerals. The 3 minerals used most commercially are amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) and chrysotile (white asbestos).
Brown and brown asbestos belong to a group of minerals called 'the amphiboles'. They have short sharp fibres that are capable of staying in the lungs for a very long time. They can be toxic if inhaled in quanitites above a certain threshold and can cause a range of diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques.
White asbestos, however, belongs to a very different group of minerals called 'the serpentines'. White asbestos has long silky fibres, that are cleared from the lungs in approximately 15 days and there has never been a proven case of white asbestos alone causing an asbestos related death.
What is also interesting is that over 90% of all asbestos containing materials still found in the UK contain white asbestos alone. Only 10% ever contained the dangerous amphibole types, and it was this 10% that accounted for nearly all the asbestos related deaths.
When making judgements on asbestos containing products, it is important not to fall into the trap of thinking that 'asbestos = bad'. Take aspirins for example. One aspirin can cure a headache, a whole bottle will kill you. Similarly, alcohol is actually legally classified as a class one carcinogen (as is white asbestos), but millions of people will drink it every day.
There is no question that the amphibole (blue and brown) forms of asbestos are hazardous to human health, but just sharing a generic group name with these does not qualify the serpentine white asbestos in the same risk bracket. Independent scientific research shows white asbestos is not even toxic at levels of up to 5000 times the US threshold allowed (Bernstein, et. al, 2006).
Should you require any work on asbestos work on your property, please do not let any companies scare you into thinking that the product in question will 'kill you' or 'damage the safety of your children' (2 common scare tactics). 90% of products will probably only contain white asbestos (chrysotile) and as such are of no measurable risk to your health. If you are told otherwise, the company may be out to make money by conducting the work themselves or gaining commission for passing it to other, licensed, companies.
If anyone has ANY concerns about asbestos related matters, either health related, or to do with the asbestos abatement industry, I really do suggest getting in touch with Asbestos Watchdog UK (http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk) (link on side of this page). They are very helpful and can boast a truly independent perspective.
Fibre science: protect yourself with knowledge
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