Types of Asbestos

Asbestos is a concern due to its extreme hazard to human health. Asbestos and talcum powder products are so pervasive that they are difficult to avoid completely. You need to educate yourself about the various types of asbestos and their potential dangers — including deadly cancer.

Introduction

Asbestos use is centuries old. For example, the ancient Greeks used the fibers in cloth making and the Romans used asbestos in wicks for candles. ⁽¹⁾

Asbestos can and has been found in products from insulation, fireproofing, and acoustic materials, to construction materials, and brake linings. ⁽²⁾

There are many different types of asbestos. They have similarities and differences. However, they all have health risks.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers. These fibers are used in manufacturing processes and products because of their strength and heat resistance. ⁽³⁾

Exposure to asbestos and talcum powder happens through the inhalation of loose, airborne fibers. Inhaling the fibers increases the risks of getting asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. ⁽⁴⁾

You might wonder, just how many types of asbestos are there?

The Six Types of Asbestos

The six types of asbestos fall into two classes, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): ⁽⁵⁾

• Serpentine: chrysotile (white asbestos).
• Amphibole: amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite.

All types of asbestos increase your risks of developing asbestos related cancers. ⁽⁶⁾

Amphibole asbestos is found in existing construction materials, cement/concrete, insulation, roofing, paints, sealants, plumbing materials, and fabrics. ⁽⁷⁾

Serpentine Asbestos

There is only one type of serpentine asbestos.

Chrysotile (White Asbestos)

Serpentine asbestos is also known as chrysotile or white asbestos. It is the most widely used and the most common type of asbestos. ⁽⁸⁾ In this class of asbestos, the silicate tetrahedra (a solid with four plane triangular faces) forms “sheet” structures. ⁽⁹⁾

Important points about Chrysotile:

• Chrysotile is a “slender, fine, flaxy fiber.” Chrysotile is silky and ranges in color from gray-white to yellow-green. ⁽¹⁰⁾
• Chrysotile is found in asbestos diaphragms, sheet gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes and linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets. ⁽¹¹⁾
• Chrysotile was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because it poses unreasonable risks to workers, bystanders, and consumers. ⁽¹²⁾
• Long term exposure leads to “asbestosis and increases the risk of digestive tract cancer, laryngeal cancer, mesothelioma and other lung cancers.” ⁽¹³⁾

Amphibole Asbestos

Amphibole is a class of five types of asbestos fibers. Amphibole silicate tetrahedra are “arranged to form a double chain of two rows aligned side by side.” ⁽¹⁴⁾

Amosite (Brown Asbestos)

• Amosite is brown, gray, or greenish in color. It is fairly flexible. ⁽¹⁵⁾
• It was used in cement, roofing, construction, and insulation materials. ⁽¹⁶⁾ It is also found in concrete sheets. ⁽¹⁷⁾
• Health risks include asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. Asbestos may also cause gastrointestinal disease. ^{(18) (19)}

Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)

• Crocidolite is lavender, blue, or green in color. The fiber has good flexibility. ⁽²⁰⁾
• It was used in cement, tiles, insulation, and spray-on coatings. ^{(21) (22)}
• Health risks include mesothelioma, and other cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. There is some evidence it can cause colorectal cancer or cancer of the pharynx or stomach. ⁽²³⁾

Tremolite

• Tremolite is white to pale green in color and is a brittle fiber. ⁽²⁴⁾
• Tremolite is a contaminant in talc and vermiculite. It is found in fabrics, paints, sealants, insulation, roofing, plumbing materials, and crayons. ^{(25) (26) (27)}
• Health risks are identical to other asbestos types: mesothelioma, and other cancers of the lungs, larynx, and ovary. ^{(28) (29)}

Actinolite

• Actinolite is green in color and its flexibility is fair to brittle. ⁽³⁰⁾
• It was used in cement, paint, insulation, and drywall. ⁽³¹⁾
• Health risks include lung diseases, mesothelioma, and other cancers of the lungs, larynx, and ovary. ⁽³²⁾

Anthophyllite

• Anthophyllite is gray, white, brown-gray, or green in color. Its fibers have fair to good flexibility. ⁽³³⁾
• It can be found in cement and insulation products. ⁽³⁴⁾
• Health risks associated with anthophyllite exposure include lung disease, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. ⁽³⁵⁾

How to Identify Asbestos

Asbestos is not always visible. If in doubt, treat the material as if you suspect it contains asbestos. Check the age of the building or the date the materials were installed. If prior to 1989, have a trained and accredited asbestos professional take a look. ⁽³⁶⁾

The EPA advises, “Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers. This is particularly true if you often disturb it by hitting, rubbing or handling, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow.” ⁽³⁷⁾

If you suspect asbestos is present, do not touch it. Limit access to the area where it is located. Then contact a trained, accredited asbestos professional. ⁽³⁸⁾

The health risks of exposure to asbestos fibers are extreme. So, it is best to have a professional inspect, test, and remove any asbestos. The risks of your exposure far outweigh the costs of hiring a professional.

Asbestos FAQ

Here are answers to some questions you may have about asbestos.

What Is the Most Commonly Found Asbestos?
Chrysotile is the form of asbestos that is the most commonly naturally occurring. ⁽³⁹⁾

How Do I Know If Something Has Asbestos?
Check the age of the building and the installation date of the materials. Look for signs of wear, tear, abrasions, or water damage. In the end, the only way to determine if asbestos is present is to have it professionally tested for asbestos.

What Should You Do If You Suspect the Presence of Asbestos?
Isolate the area and contact an asbestos professional.

Are All Types of Asbestos Dangerous?
All forms of asbestos can cause cancer and there is no safe level of exposure. ⁽⁴⁰⁾

Have All Types of Asbestos Been Banned?
Most forms of asbestos were banned by the EPA in 1989. The only remaining form of asbestos — chrysotile — was banned on March 18, 2024. ⁽⁴¹⁾

How Do You Know If You Touched Asbestos?
Dermal exposure to asbestos is not considered dangerous. The ATSDR says, “People may also be exposed to asbestos by accidentally swallowing fibers or getting them on their skin. However, the effects of swallowing or touching asbestos are less serious than the health effects of breathing asbestos.” ⁽⁴²⁾ The handling of friable asbestos products often results in airborne asbestos fibers. Without proper protection, these will be inhaled.

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a known carcinogen — a substance that causes cancer. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos below which cancer will not occur. All levels of exposure to all types of asbestos have been shown to cause cancer in humans. Asbestos also causes scarring and inflammation in the lungs and lining of the lungs. This leads to several possible asbestos related diseases. ⁽⁴³⁾

Asbestosis: This is an inflammatory lung condition causing permanent lung damage.

Cancers: Cancer occurs when abnormal cell growth crowds out normal cells. Cancer can develop in any part of the body, such as the lung, larynx, and ovary. Then it can spread from there. ⁽⁴⁴⁾

Mesothelioma: This cancer begins in the membranes lining the chest and abdomen.

The EPA says asbestos is linked to over 40,000 deaths each year in the U.S. ⁽⁴⁵⁾ There are 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed annually, states the American Cancer Society. ⁽⁴⁶⁾ Overall deaths from occupational exposure to asbestos increased 20.2% between 1990-2019, according to researchers. ⁽⁴⁷⁾

Asbestos Health Risks FAQ

Here are the answers to questions you may have about the health risks of asbestos.

How Quickly Can Asbestos Affect You?
It can take 10 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos for your symptoms to appear. ⁽⁴⁸⁾

What Happens If You Breathe in Asbestos Once?
Most diseases are linked to heavy, long-time exposures. Mesothelioma can develop with very small amounts of exposure. ⁽⁴⁹⁾

Why Is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?
Asbestos breaks into microscopic fibers that can remain airborne for days. Once airborne, they penetrate deep into your lungs. ⁽⁵⁰⁾

What Are the Common Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure?
Symptoms of asbestos exposure include shortness of breath, persistent cough, tightness or pain in your chest, loss of appetite, weight loss, and crackling sound in your lungs while breathing. Another symptom is wider and rounder (clubbing) fingers and toes. ⁽⁵¹⁾

Should I Be Worried If I Was Exposed to Asbestos?
Any exposure to asbestos is concerning. Certain occupations place you at higher risks for asbestos exposure. Jobs in industries like construction, manufacturing, milling, mining, mechanics, and engineering have the highest risks for exposure. ⁽⁵²⁾

How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
Asbestos causes inflammation and interferes with normal cell division. This leads to genetic errors and uncontrolled cell growth that can result in cancer. ⁽⁵³⁾

Asbestos Regulations and Safety Measures

In December of 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned asbestos in consumer patching compounds. ⁽⁵⁴⁾

The EPA banned asbestos products from U.S. markets in August 1989. The ban was incomplete and applied to, “the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of some asbestos-containing products. The EPA also banned new uses of asbestos which prevent new asbestos products from entering the marketplace.” ⁽⁵⁵⁾ 

In April 2019, the EPA took action to guarantee asbestos products would no longer be on the market and could not return to the market. ⁽⁵⁶⁾

In March 2024, the EPA finalized a ban on chrysotile, a form of asbestos used in products not previously covered by earlier bans. ⁽⁵⁷⁾

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued regulations concerning the use and removal of asbestos. ^{(58) (59)}

Licensed professionals are trained to identify, test, and remove asbestos when found. These professionals learn how to dispose of asbestos materials in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws. It is critically important to hire certified and licensed professionals whenever you suspect you need asbestos removed.

What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos Exposure

There are steps you should take if you have been exposed to asbestos: ⁽⁶⁰⁾

• Wash your body and clothes.
• If exposed at work, talk to your employer.
• Contact your doctors so they can monitor your health, moving forward. Obtaining medical advice as early as possible after your exposure is critical.

As an asbestos exposure victim, you can file a lawsuit against any companies or people whose negligence resulted in your medical diagnosis.

A lawsuit can help you obtain monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, travel expenses for treatments, or funeral expenses.

Asbestos Exposure FAQs

What Should You Do If You Are Likely To Come into Contact With Asbestos at Work?
As a worker, you should wear protective clothing and use personal protective equipment such as HEPA respirators. Speak with your employer about asbestos hazard policies. ⁽⁶¹⁾

What Are the Responsibilities of Employers and Landlords?
OSHA requires employers to protect workers against exposure to asbestos. ⁽⁶²⁾ States also have laws to protect people from asbestos exposure. For example, New York law establishes who may do asbestos inspections, testing, and removal. It also dictates what tests need to be performed to determine if asbestos is present. ⁽⁶³⁾

Can You Get Rid of Asbestos?
All asbestos waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. This includes transporting asbestos materials in a covered vehicle to an approved asbestos disposal facility. Materials must be properly sealed, in bags or drums. ⁽⁶⁴⁾

Asbestos Lawsuit

An asbestos lawsuit is appropriate if you get sick from being exposed to asbestos, including asbestos in talcum powder. You must establish a connection between your exposure and the negligence of another party.

Once you file your lawsuit, your lawyer works on preparing for your trial, or reaching a settlement with the negligent company.

Filing an Asbestos Lawsuit FAQs

Can I Claim If I Have Been Exposed to Asbestos?
Yes, you can file a claim if you have a medical diagnosis of an asbestos exposure related health condition.

Can You Sue for Being Exposed to Asbestos?
Yes, if you have a medical diagnosis related to exposure to asbestos, you can file an asbestos lawsuit.

How Do I Prove That I Was Exposed to Asbestos?
A written diagnosis from your physician, receipts for medical treatments, medications, medical tests, and insurance claims can all help support your legal case. So can employment records and testimony from coworkers.

Weitz & Luxenberg

Asbestos victims suffer greatly; your struggles and pain affect not only you, but also your families. Empathy and compassion drive Weitz & Luxenberg asbestos lawyers to consistently achieve substantial results in all types of asbestos claims.

Weitz & Luxenberg has a reputation for tenacity and skillful negotiations, from representing thousands of asbestos cases. Contact our office at (833) 977-3437 or fill out the online form now.