At it's most basic, asbestos is a rock mined from the earth.
A mineral is an inorganic, naturally occurring substance of a single type of stuff. A rock is made up of various minerals and other naturally occurring substances.
Asbestos is a mineral, but it is not found in pure concentrations. When asbestos is mined, it is mixed with contaminates such as dirt, rocks, and other minerals.
More acurately, asbestos is a naturally occuring silicate mineral found on nearly every continent on the earth. Asbestos has long been used for its weavable fibers and resistance to heat. Ancient Greeks decribe funeral shrouds woven from asbestos that allowed the ashes of the body to be kept separate from the funeral pyre's ashes. The term "asbestos" comes from an Greek word meaning unquenchable or indestructable.
Although the word "asbestos" refers to several similar minerals, it is not a geological term, but a commercial one. The six minerals that have been used in commercial and/or industrial applications are collectively referred to as asbestos; other minerals with similar qualities that have not been exploited by industry are referred to as "asbestiform."
| Asbestos Mineral Name | About | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| chrysotile serpentine type asbestos white asbestos |
The most commonly used asbestos; as of 2000, it makes up 99% of the world’s current asbestos production | Textiles, woven brake linings, clutch pads, and marine insulation |
| cummingtonite-grunerite amphibole type asbestos brown asbestos Amosite (trade name; acronym for Asbestos Mines of South Africa) |
No longer mined | Insulation, ceiling tiles, vinyl tiles, roof sections, wall panels, and water pipes |
| riebeckite amphibole type asbestos blue asbestos |
No longer mined | Same as above, and also filters for gas masks and cigarettes |
| anthophyllite amphibole type asbestos |
Very rarely mined | Paint and sealants |
| actinolite amphibole type asbestos |
Very rarely mined | Drywall and joint compounds |
| tremolite amphibole type asbestos |
Not generally mined, but found as a contaminant in vermiculite (as in Libby, MT) | Vermiculite is used as a soil conditioner and loose-fill insulation material |
Asbestiform minerals are defined by their chemical and physical characteristics. All varieties of asbestos are chemically silicates and physically fibrous. The fibrous and dusty nature of asbestos is a large part of why asbestos was so widely used, and why it is so dangerous.
Microscopic asbestos fibers shown by a Scanning Electron Microscope (asbestos image courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey).
Asbestos fibers were often used as a lightweight filler material, but lightweight asbestos fibers are also easily airborne, making for dusty working conditions where inhalation or ingestion of fibers was very likely. The long, thin fibers that are so characteristic of asbestos allow it to be woven into fabric, but these fine fibers also enable asbestos to slice into the delicate tissues of lungs. Finally, the tensile strength of asbestos meant it was often mixed with other materials for reinforcement, but this strength overpowers the body's natural defenses making asbestos fibers impossible to break down.
Asbestos has been used by man for centuries. The first recorded use for asbestos was to add lightweight strength to ceramic pots and utensils in Finland in 2500 B.C. The modern use of asbestos, however, didn't take off until the industrial revolution. Asbestos use grew exponentially worldwide and within the US.
Perhaps most interesting about all this modern asbestos use is that the risks appeared almost as soon as the "miracle mineral" was used in any amount. Disease and injury in asbestos factories was being discussed by 1898. First asbestosis, then lung cancer, and finally mesothelioma were all attributed to asbestos. By the early 1960s, there was not much argument to be made on behalf of asbestos.
It is hard to believe then, that asbestos use in the U.S. continued to rise for another decade. Even today, asbestos is not banned and it is still imported into the United States.
At its peak, 1.7 million workers were employed by U.S. Naval shipyards. Asbestos cladding and insulation was so widely used on ships that every one of these workers was likely exposed to asbestos. [High risk asbestos jobs.]
Since 1900, enough asbestos cement pipe has been manufactured to circle the earth more than 17 times. Asbestos has been used in everything from cigarette filters to mattresses, although the most common uses for asbestos over the last century been in materials for industrial and construction purposes. [Products that contain asbestos.]
Mesothelioma cancer is a tumor affecting the thin membranes lining some of the body's internal cavities and organs. An aggressive and deadly cancer, mesothelioma's only known cause is asbestos exposure, making it exceedingly preventable, had asbestos companies cared to try. [Mesothelioma asbestos cancer.]
Interested in learning about new and novel treatments for asbestos cancer? Reading up on the latest clinical trials can be a good way to learn about the cutting edge in medical research. You may even find a program you and your physician think you could benefit from participating in. [Asbestos Cancer: Clinical Trials]
With a century of medical evidence, secret memos, and long-winded depositions, asbestos attorneys have their work cut out for them. Couple this with the task of finding specific job sites and products for each client, and it's clear to see why asbestos lawsuits are complex.
Asbestos lawyers who have been involved since the beginning have the experience and knowledge to aggressively try your case. [Asbestos Cancer Lawyers.]