What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of natural silicate minerals of magnesium, iron and calcium. It is usually discovered in various rock groups and formations from around the world. The main sites of commercial production are in Canada, Russia and South Africa. Overall there are 6 main types of asbestos fibre divided into 2 groups.

Serpentine group

• Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly encountered form of asbestos. Chrysotile was banned in the UK in 1999. Traditionally it was the most widely used of all asbestos types, accounting for approximately 95% of asbestos mined annually. Like the other forms of asbestos, chrysotile can absorb organic materials such as resins and polymers and can be used to strengthen particulates such as cement.

Amphibole group

• Crocidolite (blue asbestos) often occurs in: lagging to boilers, sprayed coating to a ceiling, walls and columns, packing to boilers and pipework. It is the strongest of all asbestos fibres and has a high resistance to acids. The high bulk volume of Crocidolite makes it suitable for use in sprayed insulation

• Amosite (brown asbestos) Amosite was used for anti-condensation and acoustic purposes; on structural steel it was used for fire protection. Amosite was used in preformed thermal insulation, pipes, slabs and moulded pipe fitting covers. In the UK Amosite was also used widely in the manufacture of insulation boards. The import of amosite was banned as of 1 January 1986 by The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985.

• Anthophyllite: Although Anthophyllite asbestos is not often used for industrial purposes, the fibres can occasionally be found among natural minerals that expand with the application of heat, such as vermiculite (which is commonly added to gardening soil).

• Tremolite asbestos has been used for industrial purposes (though not as much as chrysotile) and has been identified as an ingredient in some household products, primarily talcum powder (which is also a known carcinogen).

• Actinolite does not have a strong history of commercial or industrial use, but it may be a contaminant in asbestos products. There are non-fibrous variants of Actinolite that do not pose the same health threats associated with exposure to commercially exploited forms of asbestos.

Asbestos Beginnings
The first occurrence of asbestos diseases appeared in employees involved in the mining and milling of crude asbestos and in the manufacture of asbestos products. The next instance affected workers using asbestos products such as insulators, pipe-fitters, construction workers. The final wave is associated with exposure to asbestos in situ, for example; plumbers, electricians, carpenters and refurbishment workers.

In addition para-occupational exposure experienced by relatives of asbestos-contaminated workers is resulting in an increasing number of victims among the wives and children of asbestos workers who brought the dust home on their work clothes.

Products which contain asbestos can generate fibres when they are damaged, disturbed, weathered or old: in these circumstances, fibres are released into the atmosphere and asbestos exposure through respiration can occur.

There are no official statistics for the number of British buildings which contain asbestos. The TUC believes that "asbestos is present in most schools and other public buildings erected since the 1960s, especially in walls, ceiling and fire doors, lagging on hot pipes, boilers and ovens and in wall cavities and lofts." According to one industry expert all mature buildings in Britain, which is pre-1980, are liable to contain this category 1 carcinogen.

Asbestos usage in the UK was finally completely banned on 24th August 1999. This was one month after the European Union banned chrysotile (white asbestos). The Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Prescott, came into force on November 24, 1999 five years ahead of the European deadline.