Table Of Contents
Become Asbestos Aware
You may have seen the term "asbestos" used in news articles or television shows. Despite the widespread use of this name, many people don't know what asbestos is or how it can affect different aspects of their lives.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in construction materials and other products due to its strength and fire-resistant properties. White asbestos and blue asbestos are two of six types of naturally occurring asbestos fibres which are as listed below.
• Blue (crocidolite asbestos)
• Brown (amosite asbestos)
• White (chrysotile asbestos)
• Yellowish-brown to yellowish-green (tremolite asbestos)
• Greyish-white (anthophyllite asbestos)
• Dark green to blue-green (actinolite asbestos)
In this article, you'll learn about two types of asbestos; blue and white. You will also learn about the history of asbestos and how it has affected many people worldwide.
Effects Of Exposure To Asbestos
Its use has been dramatically reduced due to its adverse health effects. The use of asbestos has been banned in more than 55 countries worldwide, although you can still find it in many places.
These types are similar in that they cause certain illnesses, including mesothelioma. Many people don't realise that asbestos can cause mesothelioma, cancer that affects the thin linings of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and heart. They also can cause asbestosis and other diseases.
White asbestos and blue asbestos are both carcinogenic to humans; however, blue asbestos is more dangerous than white asbestos because its fibres are thinner and much more easily inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs.
The Most Notable Properties Of Asbestos
The most remarkable properties of asbestos include:
• Fire retardant/fire resistance: This property makes asbestos perfect for use in the construction industry. You can easily blend it with other materials such as cement and plasterboard to produce fire retardant products that effectively reduce the spread of fires.
• Insulation: Asbestos is an effective insulator which makes it useful for construction work such as sound-proofing. It can be mixed with other materials like clay, wood pulp, or cement to achieve this property.
• Chemically inert: Asbestos has very low reactivity and does not get damaged when exposed to chemicals, acids, or bases, which makes it suitable for use in chemical plants.
What To Know About White And Blue Asbestos
You should be aware that both are dangerous. In fact, they can both cause mesothelioma and asbestosis, which results in difficulty breathing. Safe Work Australia encourages you to avoid asbestos exposures at work for your own safety.
That's also true for chrysotile asbestos in its raw form. However, industry experts insist that it can be handled safely when bonded with cement or incorporated into other products to strengthen them.
Those that live in Australia, the United States, or Brazil and think they have been exposed to white asbestos on the job should see a doctor right away. If necessary, the doctor will perform a chest X-ray. This is so he or she can look for signs of respiratory disease like asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma cancer.
If you test positive for either condition, early treatment may help slow the progression of your illness so that you experience fewer symptoms while extending your life expectancy.
White asbestos
Chrysotile asbestos is the most common type of asbestos. It makes up about 95 per cent of all asbestos found in buildings across the world. In fact, it is estimated that by 1990, at least six million tons of asbestos had already been mined worldwide, with much more still in the ground.
Different minerals come together to make up various strains of each type of asbestos within these categories. Chrysotile, or white chrysotile, comes from one specific strain called magnesium silicate hydroxide. White, or chrysotile, asbestos was quite common in construction and accounted for almost 95 per cent of all the asbestos used in industrial applications between 1900 and 1970.
Serpentine is the name of the rock from which chrysotile is mined. Its formation takes place in hot, wet areas, and as a result, this form of asbestos can be found in many places around the world, from Canada to Zimbabwe and in between, such as Russia, Brazil, China, and South Africa, to name just a few.
Chrysotile is found in many places around the world. Below are some of the countries where it is mined:
• Russia
• Kazakhstan
• China
• Brazil
Some countries have banned the import and use of chrysotile, while others have restricted its use to only specific industries and products.
Blue asbestos
Blue asbestos, also known as crocidolite, is amphibole asbestos. When studied under a microscope, it gets its name from its distinct blue colour. Blue asbestos is harder than white asbestos and more brittle than other types of asbestos. Since the fibres that make up blue asbestos are shorter and more rigid than those of other types, they break easily and float in the air longer.
These qualities make blue asbestos especially harmful to human health. The only country that is currently mining blue asbestos for commercial purposes is South Africa. Still, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), crocidolite asbestos was once mined in Brazil and Australia as well. Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, is the most dangerous type of asbestos.
It is rare and has long been banned in the United States and Canada because it can cause mesothelioma. Blue asbestos fibres are short and needle-like, making them more likely to lodge in the lungs when inhaled. Blue asbestos is only found naturally in one location now: South Africa's Northern Cape Province. The last commercial mine for blue asbestos closed in 2003.
Blue and white asbestos uses
Both white and blue asbestos were commonly used in various building materials because they are heat-resistant and strong. If you live in an older home or attend a school, you can have one or both types of asbestos inside. You may also find the two forms of asbestos in nuclear reactors' fireproofing materials.
Most nuclear regulatory commissions require that any structures built near nuclear reactors have highly fire-resistant materials. Blue asbestos was primarily mined in Africa, with other locations being Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. Different types of asbestos were mined in China, India, Canada, Russia, and the United States. Some of the world's largest asbestos mines were located in Canada.
Differentiating white from blue asbestos
Here are some tips on how to spot white and blue asbestos and what you need to do if you find it:
• Look for white, blue, or brown fibres. If you see these fibres in a building or other structure, assume the worst and act accordingly.
• Check for asbestos in ceilings, roofing materials, thermal insulation materials, gaskets (or insulating material) in switchboards/switch rooms/metre rooms, floor tiles/coverings (especially vinyl), brake pads, clutches, and gaskets in vehicle engines.
• Perform regular checks when working with materials that could potentially contain asbestos. Asbestos is usually found under the material's surface – not on top. Keep safety equipment close at hand when doing these checks. A respiratory mask and gloves are recommended as the minimum level of protection – this will prevent the inhalation of microscopic dust particles that can cause serious health issues over time.
• Report any suspected asbestos cases immediately if you find any on your site or premises – don't wait until after work hours have ended! The company's health and safety officer should be your first point of contact – they can then notify other relevant parties, such as management or even local authorities, depending on severity levels assessed by them (or yourself).
Comparison Between Blue And White Asbestos
A visual comparison of blue and white asbestos shows that they share some characteristics. Both are silicate minerals with a layered crystal structure, but they differ in their chemical composition, iron amount, and the number of fibres per bundle. Compared to blue asbestos, white asbestos is more heat resistant and flexible.
It is also more elastic, robust, and durable than blue asbestos. White asbestos has a higher tensile strength than blue asbestos. It is slightly less chemically resistant than blue asbestos, but the difference is too small to be essential for most purposes. The key difference between white and blue asbestos is that white has curly, corkscrew-shaped fibres, whereas blue asbestos has long, thin fibres.
The shape of the fibres is crucial because it determines how easy it is for the particles to be inhaled. Long, thin fibres can easily be inhaled and are also known to penetrate through the skin. Blue asbestos (or amphibole asbestos) includes tremolite, crocidolite, and anthophyllite.
White asbestos (or serpentine asbestos) includes chrysotile or carfibre as it's known in Britain. Both types are incredibly hazardous when disturbed, and only white asbestos is mined today, but not all countries have restrictions on its export.
Materials That Contain Blue Or White Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a wide range of materials and products. That is many building materials, including roof sheets, wallboard, floor tiles, and insulation boards.
For example, asbestos was also once a popular material for making household goods such as irons, hairdryers, and toasters. It was also used in many industrial products; asbestos-containing brake pads continue to be on the market today.
Blue Vs. White: Which Is Less Dangerous?
While white asbestos is more heat-resistant than blue asbestos, that doesn't necessarily mean it's safer. If a white asbestos product is damaged, it still releases fibres into the air, which can cause health issues. It's also important to understand why asbestos was used in the past. It was valued for its ability to resist fire, heat, and chemical decay.
It was usually mixed with cement to create strong building products like corrugated iron roofs, guttering, and water pipes. Given these properties, blue asbestos was especially useful in construction projects where materials were exposed to the elements. Before you start a home improvement project or even work around your home, make sure you know what type of products may contain asbestos in your area.
Blue asbestos is said to be more toxic than white asbestos. Blue asbestos is considered more dangerous than white because it causes scarring of the lung tissue that leads to cancer more quickly than white does. But the two still have similar hazardous effects on human health. You might be asking yourself, "If blue asbestos is more toxic than white, why is white still dangerous?"
Both types of asbestos contain carcinogenic materials that can cause cancer in the human body. These fibres are so tiny that they can be inhaled deep into the lung and eventually penetrate the tissue. This leads to internal scarring and inflammation, which cause long-term damage to respiratory health.
Let Experts Handle Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals used for their physical properties, such as tensile strength, flexibility, chemical, and thermal stability. White asbestos is used in cement and bricks, whereas blue asbestos is used in insulation products. Unfortunately, both types of asbestos can cause devastating health consequences.
Blue asbestos has been a more significant health hazard than white asbestos due to its curly fibres. The fibres come apart easily when they're handled or disturbed, releasing millions of tiny particles into the air that can be inhaled by anyone nearby.
Once lodged in your lungs, they can cause mesothelioma or lung cancer. You could also develop asbestosis, a severe lung disease caused by scarring in your lung tissues. It's sometimes impossible to tell whether exposure occurred years ago or recently because the symptoms for many of these diseases don't appear until 20-50 years after you inhale the fibres from blue asbestos products.
So let the experts handle asbestos if you suspect that parts of the house still contain asbestos. Instead of risking your health and developing complications later on in life, call in for help! This applies whether you are at home or the workplace doing demolitions. Professionals have the expertise and knowledge to handle the material as required.
David
