There are six different types of asbestos. They are all very dangerous and can lead to very bad lung diseases, including cancer. All of the six different types are unique in their shape, size, texture and color. The type most commonly used in buildings in and around Chicago, Illinois is Anthophyllite. This is common in Chicago because many products in Illinois use “vermiculite” and both vermiculite and talc are in Anthophyllite. Anthophyllite is a non-commercial product and is . Luckily, because it is used so often, it is one of the less dangerous types of asbestos. Unluckily, though it is generally harder to identify. It can still cause very serious illnesses.
The next type is very similar to Anthophyllite and is called Tremolite. Tremolite fibres are found as a contaminant in chrysotile asbestos and found in paints, sealants, insulation products and talc products. It is very useful because it can be spun and woven into cloth. It can come in several colors; white, green and grey. Last in this group of types of asbestos is actinolite. Actinolite is lightweight and dark in colour. What makes this type unique is that it expands when heated, making it a very successful insulation material. This property of actinolite has led to it being used as insulation materials and structural fireproofing.It comes in many various forms, like delicate and fibrous or dense and compact. It is mainly found in paints, sealants and drywall.
The next group of types of Asbestos is Chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite. These are more intense and dangerous types than the other group anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite.
Chrysotile is blue asbestos. Crocidolite has thin fibres, when it is inhaled, goes easily in the lungs. It’s thin fibres make crocidolite one of the most harmful types of asbestos. This is because it easily breaks down, and that leads to asbestos submission. The next type in this group is amosite. Amosite (brown asbestos) is a strong heat resistant type of asbestos. It is mainly mined in Africa and it most commonly used in cement sheet, plumbing insulation and electrical insulation. It is used often in all of these things because it is a non flammable type of asbestos. Even though all of the types of asbestos are very toxic the brown asbestos (amosite) is the most toxic. It’s rates for causing cancer are comparatively higher than all the other types. Because of this it is even more important -if amosite asbestos is in your home, it needs to have proper asbestos removal.
The last type of asbestos is Crocidolite. Crocidolite is the white asbestos. Crocidolite is the most commonly used type of asbestos. A unique thing about it is that it is normally has trace amounts of tremolite, a different type of asbestos, in it. Chrysotile usually has a very fine texture. It has high flexibility and has fairly good heat resistant properties. This makes it very ideal for use in cement, brake pads/linings and roofing materials. If there are any signs of any of these types of asbestos, please have them removed.