What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a term used for a number of naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form long thin fibres and fibre bundles. Most common is the serpentine group, which includes chrysotile (white asbestos) and which has been the most frequently mined. A second asbestos group known as the amphiboles includes crocidolite (blue asbestos) and (brown asbestos). The fibres have high tensile strength in addition to chemical, electrical and heat resistance - properties that made asbestos extremely useful as a building/insulation material.

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950’s through to the mid-1980’s. It was used for a variety of different purposes although mainly is was used for fireproofing and insulation. Any type of building built before 2001 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc.) could contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne.

Asbestos fibres are present everywhere in the environment in Great Britain so everyone is constantly exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. It is a possibility that being exposed to asbestos fibres for a short period of time can lead to an Asbestos related disease. Working on or near damaged asbestos containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels, could increase your chances of getting an asbestos related disease.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are three main diseases caused by asbestos; lung cancer & asbestosis (which are almost always fatal) and mesothelioma (which is always fatal). Remember, these diseases will not affect you immediately but later on in life. Hence there is a need for you to protect yourself now to prevent you contracting an asbestos related disease in the future. It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

There are three main types of Asbestos which were used commercially as shown in the following images:

Crocidolite Asbestos (Blue), Raw and Processed

Amosite Asbestos (Brown)

Chrysotile Asbestos (White)