Asbestos Tiles
Asbestos tiles is the common name for six naturally occurring minerals that have been used in commercial products for their strength, flexibility, low electrical conductivity, and resistance to heat and chemicals. These compounds are made up of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and various metals.
Asbestos can be divided into two basic groups, serpentine and amphibole, which differ in their physical characteristics. Serpentine asbestos develops in a layered or tiered form, whereas amphibole asbestos has a chain–like structure.
Asbestos is generally made up of fiber bundles which easily separate into long, thin fibers. Positive identification of a specific fiber type requires microscopic analysis and examination. All asbestos fibers are hazardous to human health.
Asbestos is generally made up of fiber bundles which easily separate into long, thin fibers. Positive identification of a specific fiber type requires microscopic analysis and examination. All asbestos fibers are hazardous to human health.
The three most common types of fibers are:
- Chrysotile (white asbestos) – A white curly fiber, chrysotile accounts for 90% of asbestos in products and is a member of the serpentine group. It is a magnesium silicate.
- Amosite – Brown or gray, straight amosite fibers belong in the amphibole group, and contain iron and magnesium.
- Crocidolite (Riebeckite) – A member of the amphibole group, crocidolite takes the form of blue, straight fibers. It is a sodium iron magnesium silicate.
The other asbestos types, all in the amphibole group, are anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Anthophyllite ranges in color from white to gray to brown. It is associated with talc and other minerals, and is a magnesium iron silicate hydroxide.
Tremolite is a calcium, magnesium, iron silicate, which is white to grayish green and can be found in metamorphic rocks. Actinolite has a chemical formula that is similar to tremolite, but actinolite contains more iron in relation to magnesium than does tremolite. It appears as dark green crystals or fibrous aggregates.
Due to its incomparable resistance to heat and electricity, asbestos was used in thousands of products during the twentieth century including cement, floor tiles, roof materials, fireproofing material, protective clothing, automobile brakes and insulation. It is estimated that over 9 million people were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis during the twentieth century.
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to the disease Mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the mesothelium lining the body’s organs. Although the disease can take 20 years or more to develop, it spreads quickly once it surfaces and offers little chance of survival.
