What Is Mineral Asbestos Used For?

There has been much debate about the pros and cons of asbestos use and whether or not is should be used at all. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is known to be very heat resistant and strong. These qualities have made the mineral an extremely useful material for a wide variety of products and applications. Unfortunately, the inhalation of small asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and other health problems. In fact, asbestos has so many uses that manufacturers attempted to hide the health risks from employees and the public during the 1940s and 1950s so they could continue using the mineral.

Types

There are three main types of asbestos. White asbestos--chrysolite--is found all over the world and has been used in roofing supplies, floor tiles and brake lining. Unlike other forms of asbestos whose fibers look like needles, chrysolite has curly fibers. Brown asbestos, amosite, is found in Africa and has been used to make ceiling tiles and insulation. Blue asbestos--crocidolite--is found in Southern Africa and Australia. There are also several minerals which are considered to be asbestos, including tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.

History

Desired for its fire resistance, asbestos has a long history dating back to ancient Greece. Ancient Greeks wove asbestos fibers into clothing. it is believed that other ancient cultures used cloth containing asbestos as funeral shrouds. Dead kings and other respected individuals were wrapped in shrouds prior to cremation. This prevented the ashes of the individual from falling into the fire below and mixing with the ashes of the funeral pyre. Asbestos was also used to make permanent wicks for oil lamps. The industrial revolution of the 1860s created a very large demand for asbestos and the first commercial mine opened in Quebec in 1879. The first filtered cigarette, Kent, used asbestos in their filters from 1952 to 1956. Despite records from ancient Greece stating that the slaves who wove asbestos into cloth often suffered lung ailments, the health risks associated with asbestos were widely ignored until the early 1900s and hidden by many manufacturers until the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Function

Asbestos has been used in over 3,000 product due to its heat resistance, poor conductive ability, sound absorption capability and high tensile strength. Ancient civilizations cleverly used asbestos to make tablecloths for restaurants because they were easy to clean; throwing them into a fire burned off dirt and crumbs while leaving the highly flame resistant tablecloth itself intact. Asbestos has also been used as insulation in suits of armor. Asbestos was widely used during building construction throughout the 1970s and can be found in insulation, cement products, chemical filters, pipe insulation, caulk, floor and ceiling tiles, joint compound, textured paints and oven wiring. Theater stage curtains have also been known to contain asbestos.

Misconceptions

Many people believe that any asbestos found in their home should be immediately removed but this is often not true. Asbestos fibers are dangerous, but the fibers are not released from whole, intact asbestos. If asbestos containing products are in good condition it is often better to leave them alone as removing the asbestos may cause more problems than leaving it. The asbestos fibers are far more likely to be released into the environment when moving and removing the product. Asbestos is also erroneously believed to be environmentally hazardous. While asbestos is toxic to people, it is a naturally occurring element. Mining asbestos is much more environmentally friendly than mining other minerals and asbestos produces very little risk of pollution when stored and transported. While exposure to asbestos should be limited as much as possible, disease typically occurs only in individuals who have been exposed to very large amounts of the mineral over long periods of time. The discovery of asbestos in the home, school or workplace does not mean illness will occur.

Warning

Asbestos use has been banned in many countries and is heavily regulated in others. Although many precautions are now taken when dealing with asbestos it is still a dangerous material. Inexperienced individuals should not attempt to remove asbestos. Removal is best undertaken by a professional. Unless they are labeled, products containing asbestos can only be identified by a professional. When dealing with any material you believe may contain asbestos, it is important to strictly follow a few guidelines. Wet anything that is to be removed, cut or drilled into. When you are finished, clean your work area twice with wet sponges or mops--never vacuum or sweep up dust that could contain asbestos particles. It is also important to not sand any material that may contain asbestos.

Resources

• EPA Asbestos Information
• Information and Treatment Center Resources