Asbestos is the name for a group of highly fibrous minerals with separable, long and thin fibers.  Asbestos is mined from the ground.  A typical asbestos fiber is 1,200 times smaller than a strand of human hair. These fibers are heat-resistant and extremely durable.

These qualities once made asbestos very useful in construction and industry. Asbestos fibers were generally mixed with a material that bound them together so they easily could be used in many different products. (The photo above is chrysotile asbestos. The photo below is chrysotile asbestos fiber enlarged 150 times.)

Three Varieties of Asbestos Fibers--

Of the many varieties of asbestos, the three most common are chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite. Chrysotile fibers are pliable, cylindrical and often arranged in a bundle. Amosite and crocidolite fibers resemble tiny needles. Most of the commercial products containing asbestos used chrysotile fibers.

Asbestos—Once a popular commercial product. . .

Asbestos became a popular commercial product because it is strong, won’t burn, resists corrosion and insulates well. Its commercial use in the United States began in the early 1900s, when it was used as insulation in steam engines. Since then, asbestos has been used to create about 3,000 products for insulation, fireproofing and purposes.

Between 1900 and 1980, some 30 million tons of asbestos were put in place. Since the 1970s, asbestos use has declined significantly. Yet even now, U.S. companies mine and process about 200,000 tons of asbestos every year for use in hundreds of different products.

Asbestos Fibers—A Hazard to Humans. . .

The asbestos fiber’s shape, durability and strength have made it a popular construction ingredient. But unfortunately, these same properties also make the fiber a hazard to humans. The fine fibers can be inhaled or ingested and lodge in the lungs or elsewhere, where they then can cause diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, or asbestos lung cancer.

Although most construction products sold today in Missouri and Kansas, and the other states do not contain asbestos, exposure can still occur, particularly from asbestos products that remain in buildings. Anyone who owns an older building should take care that the original asbestos is not released into the building environment, creating a new health hazard. A release of asbestos fibers can still occur today when, for example:

• New cables are installed to a beam fireproofed with asbestos
• Vinyl asbestos tile floor is removed by sanding
• Asbestos-insulated pipes are repaired

Asbestos Friability

Whether or not an asbestos-containing product releases asbestos depends on several factors, such as its location and its degree of friability. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), friability is the tendency for the product to crumble under hand pressure, thus making it more likely to release fibers when disturbed. The fibrous or fluffy spray-applied asbestos materials used in many buildings for fireproofing, insulating or decorative purposes, are generally considered to be friable. Some materials such as vinyl floor tiles are less likely to emit airborne fibers unless subjected to disturbances such as sanding or cutting.

Need legal help regarding an asbestos disease?

If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers, you should consult a doctor, especially if you have any asbestosis symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer related to inhalation of asbestos fibers, contact us immediately, so that we can begin protecting your rights.

Telephone: 816-836-5050
Toll Free: 877-436-3692

Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C.
Assisting People in Missouri and Kansas Afflicted With
Asbestosis, Asbestos Lung Cancer, or Mesothelioma
221 West Lexington, Suite 400
Independence, Missouri 64050