What is Asbestos?

What is asbestos?

  • Asbestos is a term that is used for a number of naturally occurring silicate minerals that form bundles of crystallised fibres.
  • There are six types of asbestos, chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), fibrous actinolite, fibrous anthophyllite and fibrous tremolite.
  • Asbestos was used for many purposes throughout industry and construction and was partially prohibited from 1985 onwards but not completely banned until 1999.
Uses of asbestos

  • Insulation of boilers, plant and associated pipe-work.
  • Sprayed insulation to steel and concrete for fire and acoustic insulation.
  • Asbestos insulating board (AIB) for general heat and fire protection.
  • Also common were asbestos cement products, textured coatings, textiles, reinforced composite materials and bituminous products.
The health effects of asbestos

  • Asbestos in materials is safe if it is in good condition, managed and not disturbed.
  • If the material is damaged microscopic asbestos fibres can be released into the air and subsequently inhaled or ingested.  It is exposure to these fibres that can cause the diseases related to asbestos. Asbestos related diseases can take between 10 and 40 years to manifest and there are several diseases associated with exposure to asbestos including: - pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other cancers.