What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen and other metal ions that was mined from rock in a number of countries around the world. It is a tiny fibre, less than half the diameter of a strand of hair. Asbestos was widely used in the UK building and general construction industry from the 1940’s to the mid 1980’s due to its insulation and heat bearing properties. Asbestos fibres insulate very well because they are strong, flexible and non-flammable. It was shipped to the United Kingdom from the large mines of Canada and South Africa. The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1989.
Types of asbestos
The three most common varieties of asbestos fibres are chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite. Below is a brief description of each.
Chrysotile was the most commonly used form of asbestos, comprising of some 80 per cent of all asbestos use. It is often referred to as ‘White asbestos’ although in reality it is off white to grey. It has long flexible fibres which can be woven into asbestos cloth or twisted into asbestos string or rope. It was also used in many general applications.
Amosite is often referred to as ‘brown asbestos’. It was mainly used as an insulator. It is generally regarded as more dangerous to health than Chrysotile, but less dangerous than Crocidolite.
Crocidolite is often referred to as ‘blue asbestos’. Its fibres provided better heat and chemical resistance. It has shorter, stiffer fibres and was therefore less useful for some applications such as making cloth or rope. Its fibres are much stronger than those of Chrysotile. It has the unenviable reputation of being the most likely form of asbestos to cause serious asbestos related disease such as Mesothelioma.
Why was asbestos so dangerous?
In order to stick to surfaces, asbestos needed to be attached to something so it was often mixed with other compounds to bind it together. It was often applied by hand or sprayed onto walls, doors, ceilings, panels, boilers and pipe-work. It was also mixed with compounds to make pre formed asbestos sheets commonly used for insulation and cement in guttering. When asbestos was disturbed, damaged or manipulated by cutting, sanding or handling, tiny fibres were transported in the air due to being extremely aerodynamic. Inhalation of these tiny fibres has been proved to cause serious medical conditions effecting the lungs and there lining that dramatically reduce life expectancy.
Make your claim
If you would like to speak with a member of our friendly team to discuss the possibility of making an asbestos related claim for compensation call us today on 0800 508 8747, alternatively you can fill out an online enquiry form and we will contact you, either way, we are here to help you every step of the way.
