Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals once prized for their extreme durability and resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. While widely used in 20th-century construction and manufacturing, it is now globally recognized as a severe health hazard.  

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Types of Asbestos 

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Asbestos minerals are categorized into two main groups based on their physical structure:

 

• Serpentine: Chrysotile (white asbestos) is the only serpentine type. It has long, curly, flexible fibers and accounted for approximately 95% of the asbestos used in buildings worldwide.

 

• Amphibole: This group features straight, needle-like, brittle fibers. It includes Amosite (brown), Crocidolite (blue), Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and Actinolite.

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Health Risks 

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Inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers is the primary cause of several fatal diseases, 
often appearing 20 to 50 years after initial exposure:

 

• Mesothelioma: A rare, aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest, or abdomen, almost exclusively linked to asbestos. 

 

• Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, a risk that is multiplied if the individual also smokes.

 

• Asbestosis: A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease where inhaled fibers cause extensive scarring (fibrosis) of lung tissue, leading to severe breathing difficulty. 

 

• Other Cancers: It is also linked to cancers of the larynx, ovary, and possibly the stomach and colorectal tract.