Asbestos is a mineral composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen and other metal ions. Asbestos fibres insulate very well because they are strong, flexible and non-flammable. The three most common varieties of asbestos fibres are chrysolite, amosite and crocidolite. Asbestos is a tiny fibre, less than half the diameter of a strand of hair. In order to adhere to surfaces, it needs to be attached to something. When asbestos fibres are mixed with other materials, the product is called an 'asbestos containing material' or ACM.
Most health information on asbestos has been derived from studies of workers who have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their occupation. Asbestos fibre concentrations for these workers were many times higher than those encountered by the general public. Because asbestos fibres are extremely aerodynamic when disturbed, virtually everyone that has directly come in to contact with asbestos is at risk of devloping a related condition.
It was not only people who worked directly with asbestos who were put at risk of developing related diseases. Family members were also at risk; asbestos fibres became airborne easily and therefore were brought in to the home on the clothing on a generation of the nations workforce.
If you are worried about past exposure to asbestos and would like some free no obligation advice, then please call us on 0800 508 8747 or submit an online enquiry form and a member of our friendly team will call you to discuss your enquiry.
