Asbestos is well known as a dangerous material to our bodies, and we try to remove it from houses and buildings, in addition to the government discouraging its use due to its strong toxicity. Let’s take a look at the different types of asbestos, so you can have better knowledge of knowing how to protect yourself and those around you.
Chrysotile Asbestos
Chrysotile asbestos looks white, so it is also called “white asbestos”. It is the most widely found asbestos in Canada. You can find chrysotile asbestos in the roofs, ceilings, walls and floors at homes and offices.
Amosite Asbestos
People call this “brown asbestos” because amosite asbestos has a brown tinted colour. This asbestos has a higher risk of causing cancer compared to chrysotile asbestos, and it is found in the cement sheets, gaskets, or fire protection.
Crocidolite Asbestos
Crocidolite asbestos is known as “blue asbestos”. This asbestos may lead people to death, because its fibre is so thin that it can get through to lung tissues easily. If you go to the mining sites in Bolivia, Australia and South Africa, you can find this asbestos. It is used in the acid storage battery casings, cement sheets, or ceiling tiles.
Anthophyllite Asbestos
Anthophyllite Asbestos is a rare type of asbestos, and started being used commercially in comparison with other asbestos. You can find it in the cement, insulation, or roofing.
Tremolite and Actinolite Asbestos
Tremolite and actinolite asbestos is not used as a commercial material. It was found when other minerals were being dug.
Is Each Asbestos Safe?
Some asbestos is more dangerous than others. Unfortunately, every asbestos is hazardous, and all asbestos has substances which cause cancer or other serious diseases. All these types of asbestos are divided into two families: Serpentine Asbestos and Amphibole Asbestos.
Serpentine Asbestos
Serpentine asbestos includes curly fibres. Chrysotile asbestos is one of this type of asbestos, and 95% of asbestos in the world is chrysotile asbestos. Therefore, some countries still allow “controlled use” of chrysotile, even though they ban other kinds of asbestos.
Amphibole Asbestos
Amphibole asbestos includes fibres which looks like needled, and amosite and crocidolite asbestos fall under this type of asbestos.
If you have any free inquiries about asbestos or would like to speak to us about demolition and asbestos removal from your house or building, please don’t hesitate to contact our professionals.