At Legal Request we have decided to run a series of articles focusing on Asbestos. The aim is to educate as many tradesmen as possible to the perils of asbestos. As new generations of plumbers, electricians, plasterers and builders enter into the industry, skills and techniques are passed on. Awareness of Asbestos is often overlooked.
The word Asbestos covers a group of fibrous mineral silicates that have taken millennia to form under volcanic conditions. There are many different types of asbestos, but the three main commercial types of Asbestos are as follows:
Chrysolite or white asbestos is from the serpentine group of minerals (they are curly in composition). Chrysolite asbestos fibres are also the most flexible and can withstand intense heat. These properties in white asbestos enable it to be woven like cotton to produce flame retardant materials. Chrysolite asbestos was also combined with cement to produce heat resistant building materials. Chrysolite is resistant to alkaline so not effected by the cement.
Amosite is a member of the Amphibole group of asbestos. Its spiky fibres have good tensile strength and are resistant to heat. Amosite asbestos was used on structural steel for heat/flame resistance properties. Amosite asbestos was also used in air-conditioning and acoustic purposes. The density of asbestos makes it an ideal sound dampener.
Crocidolite or blue asbestos has a high resistance to acids and due to its abundance was widely used to lag pipes and as a sprayed insulation. We will get onto the medical implications of asbestos contamination in a later article but Crocidolite is deemed the most lethal of the asbestos groups.
If human beings and Asbestos were not so incompatible then - we would revere Asbestos as being truly magic. After there are not many minerals or compounds that have the following properties:
Where is Asbestos used?
You can imagine the scientist's disappointment, when they discovered that Asbestos can do so much yet the negative aspects or the medical side effects on Humans is so counter productive. The assumption to use such a capable substance as asbestos if applied in a safe manner was never made. The various industries involved in the use of asbestos did not know about the long term medical effects. Asbestosis and related asbestos illnesses can take twenty to twenty five years to present.
This series of articles on Asbestos from Legal Request are designed to give an insight into Asbestos and a background on the use of Asbestos over the past 30 or 40 years. The long term effects of asbestos contamination are really only just being felt. Those in construction, home improvement and trades industries need to know about Asbestos. If you need to know about making a claim for an asbestos related illness or any other industrial related disease or illness then please do not hesitate in contacting Legal Request on 0800 990 3500.
The next Legal Request Article "Asbestos related illness"
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