Do you want to know how to define asbestos? If so, we will do our best to define asbestos for you, including additional information that you may find useful. For those that are looking for even more information (that may not be covered here), start by visiting our asbestos page that lists all the related articles we have written at Asbestos Authority.
Define Asbestos
Asbestos is word used to reference six different naturally occurring minerals that have been used in manufacturing for the last 300 or so years. They were/are used because of their great tensile strength and their resistance to chemical, physical and thermal damage. The types of materials containing asbestos that have been manufactured include shingles, floor tiles, paper, cement and auto parts.
The six types of asbestos are listed below:
Chrysotile (serpentine)
Crocidolite (riebeckite)
Amosite (cummingtonite/grunerite)
Anthophyllite
Tremolite
Actinolite
Why do you care about asbestos and why is their an entire website dedicated to it? Heck, there are thousands of websites dedicated to it. The reason asbestos gets so much attention is because of the negative health affects it has on those that are exposed to it. With exposure to asbestos, a person is in danger of developing lung and other related problems, including but not limited to lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The six types of asbestos listed above are all fibrous, which means they contain fibers that can become airborne if disturbed. When this happens, a person can be exposed to these airborne fibers and they can inhale them. The fibers become stuck in the lungs, which can cause many problems. Usually, these fibers take many years to cause major health problems, especially in the case of cancers caused by asbestos.
One key to note about exposure: the more asbestos you inhale, the greater your chances of becoming sick because of it.
What can you do if you have been exposed? First, you should contact your doctor. Asbestos Authority is only meant to serve as an information source and should not be used as medical advice. Consult with your doctor!
What should you do if you have been exposed and are now sick? Other than getting treatment, you may be entitled to benefits, including compensation for your medical bills and other financial compensation.
Last question you may have: Is asbestos still being used today in manufacturing and if so, why? Well asbestos is still in use today and this is because of two things: an industry that doesn’t want to die and how effective asbestos is at doing its job. While a lot of countries have banned its use, many more mine for asbestos and produce hundreds of thousands of tons each year. If you want to see the countries that produce the most, check out the history of asbestos page!
The following is a list that shows all (or most) places you will find asbestos. It is not an exhaustive list, but can get you on the right track if you need a list of possible exposure points.
Where to Find Asbestos
non-room foatings
disc brake pads
roof coatings
asbestos clothing
clutch facings
asbestos-cement shingle
asbestos-cement corrugated sheet
roofing felt
transmission components
brake blocks
asbestos friction products
rollboard
mill board
asbestos cement pipe
pipeline wrap
vinyl/asbestos floor tile
drum brake linings
commercial, corrugated and specialty paper
flooring felt
sheet and beater-add gaskets (not specialty industrial)
asbestos-cement flat sheet
We at Asbestos Authority hope that we have done a good job to define asbestos for those interested. If you have more questions, you should check out the Asbestos Authority web page and see what other information you can find that may be useful.