Asbestos Flashcards
Types of asbestos minerals
Chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, actonolite, anthophylite, tremolite
Serpentine group of asbestos mineral
Chrysotile - curly fibres
Amphibole asbestos minerals
Straight fibres, everything but chrysotile
Properties of asbestos
- high tensile strength
- chemical and thermal stability
- high flexibility
- low electrical conductivity
- large surface area
- fire resistance
Uses of asbestos
- insulation
- cement building materials
- fibre cement boards
- roofing
- textiles
- gaskets and pads for cars
- brake linings
Asbestos in homes
- furnaces and heating
- car and truck brake pads
- cement and plaster
- insulation
- floor and ceiling tiles
- siding
White asbestos
Chrysotile
90% of commercial asbestos
Chrysotile
Asbestos that breaks down in the body the easiest
Chrysotile
Blue asbestos
Crocidolite
Most dangerous type of asbestos - hardest to break down in the body
Crocidolite
Type of asbestos with resistance to acid, but is no longer mined
Crocidolite
Dark green asbestos
Actonolite
Sharp asbestos fibres
Actonolite and Tremolite
Responsible for many individuals asbestos-related illnesses
Actonolite and Tremolite
Second most common type of asbestos in buildings
Amosite
Sharp needle-like fibres that become trapped in lungs
Amosite
Found in products with vermiculite and talc
Anthopyllite
Ranges in colour from white to brown
Anthopyllite
Top chrysotile producer (1 million metric tonnes in 2015)
Russia, major mine in Asbest
China chrysotile production in 2015
400,000 tonnes
Third and fourth top producers of chrysotile
Brazil, Kazakhstan
Top 3 importers of chrysotile (in order)
India, China, Indonesia
Asbestos is found in what type of rock
Metamorphic
Countries where asbestos is mined
Brazil, Columbia, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe
Asbestos mines were still operating in Quebec
Until 2011
World’s largest asbestos mine until its closure in 2011
Jeffery Mine in Quebec
Non-cancerous effects of asbestos
- asbestosis
- pleural plaques
Cancerous effects of asbestos
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
Rare cancer of the tissue that surrounds the lung
Mortality rate of mesothelioma
60% of suffers within a year, five-year survival rate of less than 7%
Asbestos is banned in how many countries
55
Where is asbestos banned
Japan, Australia, and all countries in European Union
2018 in Canada
Asbestos on full ban
Asbestos in Calgary
Homes built before 1990 (almost always before 1980):
- pipes and drywall
- insulation
- floor tiles
- roofing and siding
- heating systems (air ducts)
- plumbing
