What Is Asbestos actually ?

What is asbestos ? People often associate asbestos with such kind of mineral that causes mesothelioma. But, what is asbestos actually? There are several things we need to know about this mineral.

Defining asbestos

Asbestos can be defined as a group of mineral that is shaped like microscopic fibers. People also call it “miracle mineral” for it can be used in many kind of products such as construction products, automotive products, and even shipbuilding material. Asbestos has been proven as fireproof material which is relatively cheap, durable, and flexible material.

What is asbestos? Indeed, it is right when people associate it with such kind of material that trigger asbestosis and mesothelioma or a cancer that affects the lung linings. Some other cancer like lung cancer is also triggered by asbestos. The process when a human body affected by asbestos is also known as asbestos exposure. The process is quite long. It takes even decades until somebody gets mesothelioma or asbestosis after the asbestos exposure.

What is asbestos that causing mesothelioma and other cancer?

There are actually six kind asbestos. However, there are two most common types of asbestos that cause mesothelioma and pleural cancer.

1.Serpentine asbestos

The serpentine asbestos is the kind of asbestos that is made in a long time and it is shaped in curly fiber. There is only one kind of mineral. It is also known as white asbestos or chrysotile. This kind of asbestos is also known as the most flexible asbestos that is very easy to be combined with other material. The white asbestos is widely used all over the world, especially in the United States since 19th century. This kind of asbestos is also the asbestos that mostly used in construction material such as asbestos tiles that are used to make ceiling, roofing, and flooring construction.

2.Amphibole asbestos

Is it true that there are several kinds of? The second type of asbestos which is called amphibole asbestos consists of five kind of asbestos mineral. There are amosite, tremoline, croidolite or blue asbestos, anthophyllite, and actinolite. These kind of asbestos minerals are look like colorful fibers under the microscope. Among those kind of minerals, the chrysotile is the most dangerous asbestos since it is easier to be ingested. While the amphibole is the asbestos mineral is the kind of asbestos that is produced naturally in such kind mining process. After knowing what is asbestos, it is also suggested for you to find the way to minimizing the asbestos exposure.