Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which is common in the Earth's crust. Here in Sacramento, California, we've had a recurring panic in that the natural dust in the Sierra foothills is composed of a form of asbestos.
Asbestos is found in some, but not all:
It was an excellent material to insulate against heat. Asbestos blankets were used to smother fires, wrap around pipes or insulate buildings.
However, when powdered to a certain size and breathed in, it can cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung cavity, as well as lung cancer.
It is safe if left undisturbed and is unlikely to cause health problems with single exposure. Even the ancient Greeks noticed that it caused lung disease in the people who mined it.
The use of asbestos has been recorded in over 3000 products. It's most common use in the UK is probably in Asbestos Cement Sheeting used in the construction industry.
the use of asbestos in buildings in the UK started around 1890, the used of Blue and Brown asbestos was banned in 1985, with White asbestos being banned in <strong>1999</strong>.
Asbestos exposure has been linked with many diseases. The most common are mesothelioma, lung cancer. gastrointestinal cancer, and asbestosis.
The signs and symptoms of asbestos-related lung diseases vary. They depend on which disease you have and how much it has damaged your lungs. Signs and symptoms may not appear for 10 to 14 or more years after exposure to asbestos.
There is no such thing as "asbestos gas." The closest you can come is suspended asbestos dust in air.
Asbestos is a non-renewable mineral.
If you work with asbestos you may get little wartlike bumps on your skin. This is caused by an asbestos fiber irritating the skin. It is not common form of dermatitis.
Asbestos roofs are secured in the same manner as non-asbestos roofs that use similar materials.
Friable asbestos is material that contains asbestos fibers and that can be crumbled into dust in the hand without the use of tools.
The three main kinds of asbestos that have been used commercially are Amosite, Crocidolite, and Anthophilite.
Asbestos has been used for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans. However, it was Finnish geologist Johan Gottlieb Gahn who is credited with discovering the mineral in its modern form in the late 18th century.
Asbestos was not outlawed outright, but its use has been heavily regulated due to its health risks. In the United States, various restrictions and bans on the use of asbestos began in the 1970s, with the most notable being the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule in 1989. Many countries have similarly restricted or banned the use of asbestos due to its association with serious health conditions such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Chrysotile - White Asbestos = Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 Amosite (Grunerite) - Brown asbestos = Fe7Si8O22(OH)2. Crocidolite - Blue asbestos = Na2(Fe,Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2. These are the 3 common types
Approximately 80% of all mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure. The majority of these patients were employed in an industry that involved the use of asbestos in some fashion.
the use of asbestos in buildings in the UK started around 1890, the used of Blue and Brown asbestos was banned in 1985, with White asbestos being banned in <strong>1999</strong>.
It is probably not a good idea to install new asbestos pipe. Asbestos pipe requires remediation if and when it deteriorates to that it may be releasing asbestos fibers. Whether it is legal to install asbestos pipe depends one what legal jurisdiction you are in. Some countries have forbidden all use of asbestos containing products and some permit some uses to continue.
The only way to definitively determine if old tiles contain asbestos is to have them tested by a certified asbestos inspector. Asbestos was commonly used in tiles before the 1980s, so if your tiles were installed before then, there is a higher likelihood of them containing asbestos. However, visual inspection alone is not enough to confirm the presence of asbestos.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. Where mineral outcrops are located, natural processes of erosion release asbestos fibers. Beyond that, people mined asbestos to use in a variety of applications. The asbestos-containing products can release fibers into the environment if not properly maintained or if discarded improperly.