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What is Asbestos?
There are three main types of asbestos – crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile. They are usually referred to by the colours blue, brown and white respectivelly.
There are two family types of asbestos: amphibole (blue and brown asbestos) and serpentine
(white), they have quite distinct, different properties and chemical make-
Asbestos fibres are the smallest naturally occurring fibres which means they are often invisible and can easily pass through dust masks and overalls. Because of there size, and particularly with amphiboles being chemically inactive, asbestos fibres can stay airborne for many hours.
Asbestos – The Health Effects
Asbestos fibres cause ill health when they enter the lungs through the nose and mouth. It is the smaller asbestos fibres that are the most dangerous as the body will itself get rid of the larger fibres. These tiny fibres when they enter the lungs can stay there for many years, and this is why small but repeated exposures on different jobs, over many years, can lead to the development of an asbestos related disease.
We may have been exposed to asbestos in the past but the only way we can reduce our chances of developing an asbestos related disease is to prevent exposure to asbestos in the future.
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