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Exposed Insulation
The photo above shows exposed asbestos-containing insulation on a refinery coker.
Amosite Fibers
In the electron microscope image above, amosite asbestos fibers appear as tiny, fine, straight images. The human hair is used for size comparison.
Many Products Pose an Asbestos Exposure Risk; All Types of Asbestos Fibers Are Dangerous
Common Asbestos Fibers:
Asbestos has been used in many products because of its strength, heat resistance, and durability. This is only a partial list of items that may contain asbestos:
- » Insulation (pipe, boiler, block and cement)
- » Fireproofing and acoustical texture products
- » Textile and cloth products (asbestos gloves, blankets)
- » Spackling, patching and taping compounds
- » Gaskets and packings
- » Asbestos–cement pipe and sheet material
- » Ceiling tiles, wallboard, siding and roofing
- » Friction materials (automotive brakes and clutches)
Asbestos Fibers
Positive identification of a specific asbestos fiber type requires microscopic analysis and examination. The three most common types of asbestos fibers are:
- Chrysotile:
- White, curly fibers. Accounts for 90% of asbestos in products. Member of the serpentine mineral family.
- Amosite:
- Round, gray, straight fibers. Member of the amphibole mineral family.
- Crocidolite:
- Blue, straight fibers. Member of the amphibole mineral family.
Other types of asbestos fibers include tremolite and actinolite, which are part of a group called amphiboles.
Exposure to any of the asbestos fiber types can injure your health and lead to mesothelioma or other serious asbestos diseases. Asbestos tends to break up easily into smaller and smaller microscopic particles that float in air and stick to clothes and other surfaces. Asbestos becomes a health hazard when it crumbles, falls apart, or is otherwise disturbed. The greater your asbestos exposure, the higher your risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
For more information about how asbestos exposure may lead to mesothelioma, see Asbestos Exposure. See our sister web site, Asbestos Network, for an in–depth discussion of the different asbestos fibers and asbestos products. The site also covers asbestos exposure in various industries and asbestos worker safety issues.
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