| Most people do not know that asbestos is a | | | | § automobile brake shoes, |
| natural substance. They assume it to be a | | | | § clutches, |
| substance made by man for commercial | | | | § disk pads, |
| purposes. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral found in | | | | § textiles, |
| nature and mined by man to use for various | | | | § plastics, |
| purposes. The wonder of this mineral is that it is | | | | § paper, |
| fire resistant, chemical resistant, highly strong, and | | | | § rubber and |
| completely flexible and has very low electrical | | | | § even in nuclear industry. |
| conductivity. Due to the above reasons, asbestos | | | | It has been proved by medical science that |
| is used for a variety of purposes in various | | | | chrysolite also leads to various asbestos- related |
| industries. Some of them are: | | | | diseases, including mesothelioma. However, the |
| § Asbestos is widely used in the construction | | | | asbestos industrialists are trying to hush up these |
| industry because of its fireproof quality. | | | | studies. They keep claiming that it is not harmful. |
| § Asbestos can be easily woven into cloth | | | | They do all that is possible in their power to stop |
| and is thus used to make fire poof clothing. | | | | the government from banning chrysolite. The |
| § Asbestos is used to make gaskets and | | | | result is that asbestos is still widely used in India, |
| pipes. | | | | Canada, Africa, China and some other countries. |
| § It is used in the shipbuilding industry. | | | | Though the developed countries have banned |
| § This popular substance was first used in | | | | asbestos some years back, it is still found in |
| 1828, in steam engines, as a lining material. | | | | many buildings and commercial products. If this is |
| § For many years, it was used to make | | | | the case in developed countries, it is frightening to |
| floorings, brake linings and clutch facings in | | | | think of the future situation in the other countries. |
| automobiles. | | | | Amosite: |
| § It is shocking to note that asbestos was | | | | This belongs to the amphibole category of |
| used in making toothpaste and surgical incision | | | | asbestos. It has very stiff and Strong fibers. |
| thread too. | | | | These fibers get easily air borne and are Very |
| Broad classification of asbestos | | | | dangerous when inhaled through the nose or |
| There are two broad categories into which all | | | | mouth. It is known as brown asbestos. It is |
| types of asbestos can be classified. They are as | | | | mostly used for insulating purposes. Most of the |
| follows:a) Serpentine group: | | | | countries have banned this amosite several |
| This type of asbestos has a layered form and | | | | decades ago itself. After chrysolite, this was the |
| the fibers are curly. This is why it is called as | | | | most popularly used type of asbestos. |
| 'serpentine'. This group has just one member, | | | | Crocidolite: |
| called chrysolite. Basically, This is the most | | | | This is a very rare type of asbestos belonging to |
| common type of asbestos.b) Amphibole group | | | | the amphibole category. It is mostly used to |
| This is considered to be the most hazardous type | | | | reinforce plastics as it is highly strong. It is slightly |
| of asbestos. It has straight fibers. Unlike the | | | | blue in color. It is also used in thermal insulation. |
| serpentine group, it has a chain like structure. Five | | | | The other three types of asbestos are not used |
| kinds of asbestos are found in the amphibole | | | | to make any commercial products and thus, |
| group. | | | | cause no harm. |
| Sub classification of asbestos | | | | How asbestos leads to mesothelioma? |
| There are six types of asbestos found on earth. | | | | When asbestos is mined and manufactured, a lot |
| Let us see about each of them below: | | | | of asbestos dust and asbestos fibers are released |
| Chrysolite: | | | | into the atmosphere. Man can easily inhale this |
| It is also popularly called as white asbestos, | | | | dust because it is light, invisible and airborne. Once |
| chrysolite is the most common type of asbestos. | | | | it enters the body, either through nose or mouth, |
| It belongs to the serpentine group. The | | | | it travels throughout the body. The body organs |
| construction industry makes vast use of this type | | | | like lungs, heart and abdomen have a lining called |
| of asbestos. Since this type of asbestos is widely | | | | as mesothelium lining. When asbestos comes into |
| used, the majority of the asbestos-related health | | | | contact with this lining, it starts behaving |
| problems globally are caused due to chrysolite. It | | | | abnormally. It starts to divide rapidly and begins to |
| is used in the following materials: | | | | outlive the other cells, leading to tumors in that |
| § fire proofing materials, | | | | area. This may also spread to the other parts of |
| § insulation, | | | | the body, leading to the terrible disease called as |
| § woven to form asbestos clothes, | | | | mesothelioma cancer. Thus, it would be in the |
| § cement pipes, | | | | best interest of all if this dangerous mineral, |
| § cement Sheets, | | | | asbestos, were banned globally. |