People are most likely to be exposed to asbestos fibres by breathing in fibres that are suspended in air. Find further advice on asbestos in the home Caution should be taken when doing DIY work in buildings containing asbestos. However, if asbestos containing products are damaged in some way, fibres may be released. If they are intact, they pose very little risk. People may come into contact with asbestos from existing asbestos-containing materials in buildings and products. It may enter the atmosphere due to the natural weathering of asbestos-containing ores or damage and breakdown of asbestos-containing products including insulation, car brakes and clutches, ceiling and floor tiles and cement. Asbestos and the environmentĪsbestos is widespread in the environment. This ban was extended to include white asbestos in 1999. The properties of asbestos made it an ideal material for use in a number of products, including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes car brakes and floor tiles, insulating board to protect buildings and ships against fire asbestos cement for roofing sheets and pipes.ĭue to the risks to health following inhalation exposure to asbestos the importation of blue and brown asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1985.
breathing in asbestos can lead to a condition called asbestosis that leads to an increased susceptibility to cancer.when damaged asbestos can release smaller fibres that can be breathed in or swallowed.asbestos is not considered harmful when in large pieces and undamaged.amphibole (blue and brown) asbestos is much more hazardous than serpentine (white) asbestos.the importation, supply and use of all asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999 the amphibole type has been banned since 1985.prior to use being banned asbestos was used in many products including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes car brakes and floor tiles.there are 2 sub-groups serpentine (white asbestos) and amphiboles (including blue and brown asbestos) of which serpentine was the more commonly used.asbestos fibres are strong, heat and chemical resistant and do not dissolve in water or evaporate.asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form fibres.Crocidolite was the most commonly used amphibole asbestos in the past. It is this form that is more hazardous to health.
Serpentine asbestos (chrysotile or white asbestos) was the most commonly used type of asbestos.Ĭhrysotile asbestos fibres are soft, flexible and curved and far less hazardous than the amphibole type.Īmphibole fibres (crocidolite -blue asbestos, amosite- brown asbestos, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are brittle fibres and are often rod- or needle-like in appearance. Asbestos fibres do not dissolve in water or evaporate, they are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation and are mechanically strong.Īsbestos is generally divided into two sub-groups serpentine and amphiboles. Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres.
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