What exactly is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. It is a fibrous, silicate mineral known for its durability, heat-resistance, and chemical inertness. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant.
These naturally occurring fibers have been mined and used for about the last 100 years with peak use in the 1970's. At that time adverse health effects were widely associated with the use of asbestos. Although asbestos use has drastically declined in the United States, it continues to be used in developing countries. There are three main types of asbestos.
•Chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most common form of asbestos in the United States and Canada and may be the least harmful. The fibers are fine, smooth, and white.
•Amosite (brown asbestos) is most often used in thermal insulation systems. The fibers are brittle and straight.
•Crocidolite (blue asbestos) consists of straight fibers and is used less often than the other two.
Products and buildings that include asbestos are known as Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM). Anthopylite, Tremolite, and Actinolite are three other forms of asbestos that can also be found in ACM.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles. More information about asbestos can be found at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asbestos.html and http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/.
Other Mesothelioma FAQs
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Q:
What is mesothelioma and how do you get it?
A: The National Cancer Institute states that: "Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac … More -
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What should I do if I've been exposed to asbestos? What if I don't feel sick?
A: If you've been exposed to asbestos it is important to tell your doctor ! Even if you don’t feel sick, the fact is that people usually don’t show … More -
Q:
Who can file an asbestos-related lawsuit?
A: Although the EPA has made regulations to promote protection from asbestos, and organizations such as the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) … More -
Q:
Are victims of mesothelioma entitled to social security disability benefits?
A: Individuals with impairments caused by certain exposures to asbestos may qualify for disability claims under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. … More -
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Is asbestos hazardous to your health?
A: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the EPA have determined that asbestos is in fact a human carcinogen, and that breathing high levels of … More -
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What happens when someone inhales asbestos fibers?
A: Asbestos fibers are harmful to humans if inhaled. When a person breathes in the small fibers, they remain in the lungs and cause scar tissue to form on the walls of … More -
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Does asbestos exposure cause cancer?
A: There are several asbestos-related diseases that can result from inhaling asbestos fibers, including: •Asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis); •Mesothelioma; … More -
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How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
A: An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. More -
Q:
Where is asbestos found?
A: In the United States, asbestos has been used in a variety of industries and products. Some examples of products that contain asbestos include: •Building … More -
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Who is at risk for mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases?
A: Most people with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a … More
