Not to be confused with the lung disease caused by asbestos, Asbestosis.
Asbestos
Fibrous tremolite asbestos on muscovite
General
Category
Silicate minerals
Strunz classification
09.ED.15
Dana classification
71.01.02d.03
Crystal system
Orthorhombic, monoclinic
Identification
Formula mass
277.11 g
Color
Green, red, yellow, white, gray, blue
Crystal habit
Amorphous, granular, massive
Cleavage
Prismatic
Fracture
Fibrous
Mohs scale hardness
2.5.6.0
Luster
Silky
Streak
White
Specific gravity
2.4–3.3
Optical properties
Biaxial
Refractive index
1.53–1.72
Birefringence
0.008
2V angle
20° to 60°
Dispersion
Relatively weak
Extinction
Parallel or oblique
Ultraviolet fluorescence
Non-fluorescent
Melting point
400 to 1,040 °C (752 to 1,904 °F)
Asbestos (/æsˈbɛstəs,æz-,-tɒs/ass-BES-təs, az-, -toss)[1] is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre (particulate with length substantially greater than width)[2] being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various dangerous lung conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. As a result of these health effects, asbestos is considered a serious health and safety hazard.[3]
Archaeological studies have found evidence of asbestos being used as far back as the Stone Age to strengthen ceramic pots,[4] but large-scale mining began at the end of the 19th century when manufacturers and builders began using asbestos for its desirable physical properties. Asbestos is an excellent thermal and electrical insulator, and is highly fire resistant, so for much of the 20th century, it was very commonly used across the world as a building material, until its adverse effects on human health were more widely acknowledged in the 1970s.[5][6] Many buildings constructed before the 1980s contain asbestos.[7]
The use of asbestos for construction and fireproofing has been made illegal in many countries.[3] Despite this, at least 100,000 people are thought to die each year from diseases related to asbestos exposure.[citation needed] In part, this is because many older buildings still contain asbestos; in addition, the consequences of exposure can take decades to arise. The latency period (from exposure to the diagnosis of negative health effects) is typically 20 years.[7][8] The most common diseases associated with chronic asbestos exposure are asbestosis (scarring of the lungs due to asbestos inhalation) and mesothelioma (a type of cancer).[9]
Many developing countries still support the use of asbestos as a building material, and mining of asbestos is ongoing, with the top producer, Russia, having an estimated production of 790,000 tonnes in 2020.[10]
^"Exposure and Disposition". Exposure and Disposition – Asbestos – NCBI Bookshelf. National Academies Press (US). 2006.
^ ab"What is asbestos?". British Lung Foundation. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
^Yildirim Dilek; Sally Newcomb (2003). Ophiolite Concept and the Evolution of Geological Thought. Geological Society of America. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-8137-2373-0.
^Bureau of Naval Personnel, Basic Electricity. 1969: US Navy.
^Kazan-Allen, Laurie (15 July 2019). "Chronology of Asbestos Bans and Restrictions". International Ban Asbestos Secretariat.
^ abKazan-Allen, Laurie (2 May 2002). "Asbestos: Properties, Uses and Problems". International Ban Asbestos Secretariat.
^King, Anthony (25 June 2017). "Asbestos, explained". Royal Society of Chemistry.
^Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Flanagan, Daniel M. (29 January 2021). "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2021". Mineral Commodity Summaries. U.S. Geological Survey. pp. 26–27. doi:10.3133/mcs2021. S2CID 242973747.
Asbestos (/æsˈbɛstəs, æz-, -tɒs/ ass-BES-təs, az-, -toss) is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed...
asbestos, produce products from asbestos, work with asbestos products, live with asbestos workers, or work in buildings containing asbestos. Asbestos...
Asbestos Corporation Limited (ACL) is a Canadian corporation originally established to mine asbestos. ACL mainly open pit mined chrysotile asbestos in...
Asbestos shingles are roof or wall shingles made with asbestos cement board. They often resemble slate shingles and were mass-produced during the 20th...
Asbestos cement, genericized as fibro, fibrolite (short for "fibrous (or fibre) cement sheet"; but different from the natural mineral fibrolite), or AC...
The mineral asbestos is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations that relate to its production and use, including mining, manufacturing, use and...
Asbestosis is long-term inflammation and scarring of the lungs due to asbestos fibers. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest...
construction, asbestos abatement is a set of procedures designed to control the release of asbestos fibers from asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos abatement...
Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the asbestos in the United States and...
types of asbestos fibers are known to cause serious health hazards in humans. The most common diseases associated with chronic exposure to asbestos are asbestosis...
Although not all vermiculite contains asbestos, some products were made with vermiculite that contained asbestos until the early 1990s. Vermiculite mines...
20th century frequently contain asbestos fibers, which are today referred to as Vinyl-Asbestos Tiles (VAT). Asbestos fibers were added to vinyl tiles...
amosite or "brown asbestos", and riebeckite is known as crocidolite or "blue asbestos". These are generally called amphibole asbestos. Mining, manufacture...
The Sydney asbestos crisis involves the remediation of asbestos-contaminated mulch across dozens of sites including parks, schools, supermarkets, hospitals...
The Asbestos Testing And Consultancy Association (ATAC) is the trade association for companies in the UK who carry out asbestos surveying, analytical...
of talc is its frequent co-location in underground deposits with asbestos ore. Asbestos is a general term for different types of fibrous silicate minerals...
in pre-1970s and early formulations, often contained white asbestos fibers. When asbestos was banned in ceiling treatments by the Clean Air Act in the...
Asbestos insulating board (AIB), also known by the trade names Asbestolux and Turnabestos, is an asbestos-containing board formerly used in construction...
They recorded two 7"s: their first (Unclean, 1989) was self-released (Asbestos Records) and a second 7" (Dejection, 1990) was released later that year...
The Asbestos strike of 1949, based in and around the town of Asbestos, Quebec, Canada, was a four-month labour dispute by asbestos miners. It has traditionally...
A fire proximity suit (also, silvers, silver bunker suit, or asbestos suit) is a suit designed to protect a firefighter or volcanologist from extremely...
The Asbestos is an alternative rock band from Venezuela formed in 2004 in the city of Caracas. The founding members are David Donoso, José Gutierrez, Juan...
Asbestos Records is an American independent record label in Stratford, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1996. It was established as a business to...