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Barbalace</a></h2> <div class="TextXSmall" style="text-align:right">[Oct. 2004]</div> <h3>General description of Asbestos</h3> <p> Asbestos is the name given to a group of fibrous, naturally occurring silicate minerals. They generally exist in nature in metamorphic or altered basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks. While the name "asbestos" goes back to ancient times, the Environmental Protection Agency created a legal definition for the word asbestos by limiting the term to 6 specific fibrous minerals from two distinct groups: chrysotile (from the Serpentine group); and amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite (from the Amphibole group). OSHA defines an asbestos fiber as having a length > 5mm and a length:width ratio of 3:1. EPA, on the other hand, defines a particle as a fiber if the ratio is >5:1 length:width when analyzing bulk samples. </p><p> Asbestos is resistant to heat and most chemicals (most forms are chemically inert). The fibers do not evaporate into air or dissolve in water. They have no odor or smell and do not migrate through soil. Indeed, even in prehistoric times, it was considered to be the wonder mineral that had limitless uses. In modern times at least 5,000 different products have been manufactured from asbestos. </p> <h3>Chemical and Physical Properties</h3> <p> For all practical purposes most forms of asbestos are inert. That is one quality that makes them so desirable in industry. They are insoluble in water and organic solvents and are nonflammable. While the serpentine chrysotile is soluble in acid, the amphiboles amosite, crocidolite and anthophyllite are resistant to acids. Interestingly enough, most asbestos minerals have non-asbestos counterparts with identical chemical compositions. In the case of tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite, the word "asbestos" is added after the mineral name to distinguish it from the non-asbestos form. Chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite do not require "asbestos" to be added because the non-asbestos forms have different names. </p><p> Fibrous forms and non-fibrous forms of a mineral may occur in the same deposits. That would make sense when one considers how asbestos is formed. It would seem very likely that temperature and pressure might be sufficient to metamorphose completely some but not all of the igneous rock into the asbestos form. </p> <h3>Physical characteristics of Asbestos</h3> <p> Asbestos has a host of physical properties that make it almost a superstar in the world of industrial chemistry. Its tensile strength surpasses that of steel. It has tremendous thermal stability, thermal and electrical resistance and is non-flammable. It can be subdivided into fine fibers that are strong enough and flexible enough to be spun into material that is a flame retardant, chemically inert thermal and electrical insulator. Note that asbestos binds with better insulating materials to create the ultimate construction materials. </p><p> Asbestos fibers have no detectible odor or taste. They are all solids that do not move through soil and are insoluble in water. Its color will vary according to type, and metallic composition. Crocidolite, which has iron and sodium as its only metallic elements, is the most colorful, adorned in a range of colors including shades of lavender, blue and green. In general, asbestos-containing iron may display a green color ranging from a hint of green to solid green depending upon the amount of iron present. </p><p> Tremolite contains no iron, but is part of a continuous mineral series with actinolite, in which iron and magnesium can freely substitute with each other. As a result, some specimens of tremolite may show a hint of pale green. Chrysotile and tremolite, which in pure form contain no iron, tend to be white, together with actinolite and anthophyllite are grouped together as "white asbestos" and classified as UN2590 (under the United Nations chemical ID numbering system). Amosite and crocidolite are classified as UN2212. Amosite and crocidolite have been used extensively for commercial use, and are considered to be extremely hazardous. Chrysotile is more flexible and has been considered to be less hazardous than either amosite or crocidolite. Until now, anthophyllite, actinolite and tremolite have been lumped with the "lesser evil" chrysotile under the UN Identification numbering system. Their occurrence in industry has been less extensive. Tremolite has been used in laboratories for filtering chemicals. Actinolite is used for industrial asbestos. There is not much reported use of anthophyllite. All three of these amphiboles also have non-asbestos forms associated with them in nature. </p> <h3>Unique structure</h3> <p> Asbestos can be subdivided into two major classifications of minerals: amphiboles and serpentines. All but one form, chrysotile, are amphiboles. Chrysotile is a serpentine. Both amphibole asbestos and serpentine asbestos are fibrous, but they have very different forms. </p><p> The amphiboles are double-chain silicates also called inosilicates. The basic structural unit is (Si<sub>4</sub>O<sub>11</sub>)<sup>-6</sup> with side groups that are responsible for the overall amphibole structure. Amphiboles are distinguished from one another by the amount and positioning of metal atoms including: sodium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron(II), iron(III) and aluminum. There is a complete solid solution between Na and Ca end members and between Mg and Fe end members. </p><p> The serpentine group of minerals has the formula Mg<sub>3</sub>Si<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>(OH)<sub>4</sub> . Serpentine structure is a bending sheet. There are only three known serpentines. Two are massive and fine grained (not asbestos form). Chrysotile is the only one in which the sheets are continuous and bend to form continuous tubes, which give the mineral the fibrous habit related to asbestos. Chrysotile is very flexible and less likely to be "friable" than the amphiboles. Friability of asbestos is generally defined as the ability to easily be turned into a dust with finger pressure. It is this friability that releases asbestos fibers into the atmosphere and results in health problems. </p> <h3>Asbestos in nature and in synthetic products</h3> <p> There is a tendency for people to think that all chemicals that are hazardous to health were created in a laboratory. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found throughout the world. It has been estimated to exist in two thirds of the rocks in the earth's crust. It is frequently found with its non-asbestos counterpart (a mineral with the exact same chemical formula, that has not been altered by extreme pressure and heat). Asbestos fibers are released into the environment through erosion and carried by the wind. Humans inhale an average of 10,000 to 15,000 asbestos fibers a day. Occasional low-level exposure to asbestos appears to present no health issues. Continuous exposure to elevated levels on the other hand, can be deadly. </p><p> Asbestos has been used in over 3,000 products in home and industry. The automotive industry has used insulation in brake shoes, valve packing materials and clutch facings. The building industry is responsible for the vast majority of asbestos use and can be found almost anywhere in buildings. A partial list of these building include: pipe insulation, asphalt floor tile, vinyl sheet flooring, acoustical and decorative plaster, cement products (wallboard, siding, pipes, panels, facings, extruded products, ducts, sheets, shingles), heating and electrical ducts, textured paints, roofing shingles and felt, wallboard blown in insulation, spray applied insulation, vinyl wall coverings, and all sorts of sealants. Friable asbestos use was discontinued in the late 70s, but it can still be found in older buildings. </p> <h3>Is asbestos gone yet?</h3> <p> Because of its association with diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis, new uses of asbestos have been banned in the USA by the Environmental Protection Agency. In October 1991, a U.S. federal court overturned an EPA regulation that banned most uses of asbestos by 1997. Only products that were not being manufactured, imported or processed on July 1989 remain subject to the prohibition of asbestos. While exposure to asbestos has been lowered as a result of abatement programs, it has recently reared its ugly head in materials that were never thought to contain asbestos. Vermiculite mined from Zonolite Mountain in Libby, Montana was found to contain the asbestos types tremolite and actinolite as well as four other mineral types (winchite, ricterite, fero-edenite and magnesioarfvedsonite) that are not on the EPA list of asbestos minerals, but none the less have all of the properties of asbestos. Evidence supports the belief that these "non-asbestos forms" have resulted in asbestoses and mesothelioma among mine workers in Libby Montana. In addition, friable asbestos present in asbestos mined at Libby, Montana under the name Zonolite may be a health hazards for nursery workers, installers of popped vermiculite insulation and individuals living or working in one of the millions of buildings that contain Zonolite insulation. Some industrial grade talc has also been found to contain asbestos. Cosmetic grade talc, on the other hand, appears to be asbestos free. </p><p> In answer to the question "Is asbestos gone?", no, it is not gone, nor will it ever be gone. Unlike PCBs, DDT and dioxin asbestos is part of the natural environment. The answer is not to be totally rid of it, but to maintain a working and living environment in which airborne asbestos is in a concentration low enough that it will not result in impaired health or death from diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, etc. When asbestos is found to be in a state in which it is non- friable and unlikely to become friable, the present trend is to leave it alone. Sometimes removal of non-friable asbestos from buildings can increase rather than decrease the chances for exposure to friable asbestos. If it is found to be friable (crumbling and powdery, or of a type that by its very nature is likely to become airborne), removal is frequently the only answer. This process must be left to asbestos abatement specialists. Most importantly, asbestos management must also be controlled at the source. How is it entering industrial and consumer products? At one time the only pathway considered to be important in introducing asbestos to our homes and businesses was via products in which it was an intentional ingredient. Suddenly it has been found to be an incidental impurity (as in vermiculite and talc). In addition, mineral types previously thought to be unassociated with the asbestos minerals have been found to have asbestos-like properties. Testing for asbestos at the source is necessary to limit exposure to workers and the general public. It will require government, industry and the general public working together to face the new challenges of asbestos contamination. </p> <h3 class="NoPrint">Related Articles</h3> <ul class="Headlines NoPrint"> <li class="HLI"><a href="/yogi/environmental/asbestoshistory2004.html">A Brief History of Asbestos Use and Associated Health Risks</a> <li class="HLI"><a href="/yogi/environmental/asbestoshealthhazards2004.html" title="Asbestos: A Manufacturing Health Hazard Dating to Prehistoric Times">Asbestos: A Manufacturing Health Hazard Dating to Prehistoric Times</a> </ul> <script type="text/javascript">document.writeln(printSocial());</script> <h3>Bibliography</h3> <ul><li> Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Anne Olin, Editor. Asbestos, Chemical Specific Health Consultation Tremolite Asbestos and Other Related Types of Asbestos. 2001. <li> Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Dept. of Health. Asbestos, Chemical and Physical Information. Sept 2001 <li> Barthelmy, David, and Marc Favre, <em>The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom.</em> <li> Edwards Minerals. <em>Parachrysotile Mineral Data</em> <li> Hahn, Jason. Asbestos: Its Dangers and Management. 1997 <li> Meeker, G.P., et al. US Geological Survey, <em>The Chemical Composition and Physical Properties of Amphibole From Libby Montana: A Progress Report</em>. Denver Center, Denver, CO 80225. <li> Mineral Information Institute. <em>Asbestos.</em> 501 Violet Street Golden, CO 80401 USA <li> Nelson, Stephen A., Prof. Tulane University, <em>Inosilcates Amphiboles & Phyllosillcates</em>, 2004. <li> Rawalt, C.J. <em>Asbestos Optical Mineralogy</em>. Earth Science Dept. Emporia State University, Kansas 1998. <li> Schneider, Andrew. - Intelligencer Senior National Correspondent. <em>Seattle Post</em>. And the Fight Goes On. Wed, Feb 28,2001. <li> USGS Spectroscopy Lab. <em>Asbestos</em>, 2002 <li> Verkouteren, Jennifer E. and Ann G. Wylie <em>American Mineralogist</em>, The tremolite-actinolite-ferro-actinolite series: Systematic relationships among cell parameters, composition, optical properties, and habit, and evidence of discontinuities. <em>Volume 85, pages 1239-1254</em>, 2000 <li> Williams, Gary, President, Diane Byrne, VP - Heritage Research, <em>Uses for Asbestos</em>. Missoula, MT </ul> <h3>Citing this page</h3><p>If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:</p><p id="idCitePage" class="CiteLink">Roberta C. Barbalace. Asbestos, its Chemical and Physical Properties. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. Oct. 2004. 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Here are some things to do to make it safer.">Guide to Handling Household Chemicals</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/200604recycledpaper.html" title="Just like anything else, the recycled paper you buy may not always be what it seems.">How Well Do You Know Recycled Paper?</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/articles/trash.html" title="Many municipal landfills have the situation well in hand; do you?">Protecting Wildlife from Trash</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/200702plasticrecycling.html" title="Where do recyclable plastics go? If a plastic makes it into the recycling loop, it will go through many processes before it emerges as a recycled p...">Plastics - From Recycling Bin to New Product</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/200705rohs.html" title="The European Union (EU) member states are taking action and holding manufacturers responsible for the hazardous materials in their products.">RoHS: Europe's Initiative to Control Technological Waste</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/medicalwaste.html" title="Gives insight as to how medical waste is disposed of in America.">Treatment of Biohazardous Waste</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/wastehistory.html" title="Do you want to be a Garbologist?">The History of Waste</A></ul></ul><h3 class="H3M">Chemistry</h3><ul class="PMenu"><li><div>Articles</div><ul class="SM"><li><A HREF="/yogi/periodic/atom_anatomy.html" title="Explains the structure of atoms and how this affects the way they interact with each other.">Anatomy of the Atom</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/chemistry/pcb.html" title="PCB, The Manmade Chemicals That Won't Go Away">The Chemistry of Polychlorinated Biphenyls</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/reference/molar.html" title="A tutorial on Molar mass calculations with examples and a molecular weight calculator to aid calculations.">Molar Mass Calculations and Molecular Weight Calculator</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/chemistry/MolarityMolalityNormality.html" title="Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.">Stoichiometry: Molarity, Molality and Normality</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/chemistry/200609fluorine.html" title="Fluoride's derivatives have many uses other than as a mouthwash.">What You Do and Don't Know About Fluorine</A></ul><li><div>Reference Resources</div><ul class="SM"><li><A HREF="/yogi/chemicals/" title="An indexed directory of common chemicals used in industry and household products.">Chemical Database</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/chemistry/dictionary/index.html" title="Defines many of the technical terms and acronyms used on this site as well as many other terms.">Chemistry Dictionary</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/periodic/" title="Comprehensive data for each element of the periodic table including up to 40 properties, common chemical compounds. Information also provided for 3...">Periodic Table of Elements</A><li><label for="PTOEDDD">Sort periodic table by: <select onchange="window.location='/yogi/periodic/'+this.options[this.selectedIndex].value+'.html'" id="PTOEDDD"><option SELECTED>select order<option value="atomicradius">Atomic Radius<option value="boilingpoint">Boiling Point<option value="covalentradius">Covalent Radius<option value="crosssection">Cross Section<option value="crystal">Crystal Structure<option value="density">Density<option value="electrical">Electrical Conductivity<option value="electronegativity">Eletronegativity<option value="meltingpoint">Freezing Point<option value="vaporization">Heat of Vaporization<option value="ionicradius">Ionic Radius<option value="1stionization">Ionization Potential<option value="mass">Mass Average<option value="meltingpoint">Melting Point<option value="name">Name<option value="index">Periodic Table<option value="series">Series<option value="symbol">Symbol<option value="thermal">Thermal Conductivity<option value="year">Year of Discovery</select></label></ul></ul><h3 class="H3M">Hazardous Materials</h3><ul class="PMenu"><li><div>Household</div><ul class="SM"><li><A HREF="/yogi/environmental/household.html" title="There are a lot of dangerous chemicals in your home. Here are some things to do to make it safer.">Guide to Handling Household Chemicals</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/200606lawnchemicals.html" title="Each year consumers paint their lawns with various fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. These chemicals can be deadly if used incorrectly.">The Dangers of Lawn Chemicals at Home</A></ul><li><div>Industry</div><ul class="SM"><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/erg/" title="An online version of the USDOT ERG which is for first responders during the initial phase of a HazMat incident.">Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)</A><ul class="SM"><li>List materials by<ul class="SM"><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/erg/">UN Number</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/erg/ob/name.html">Material Name</A></ul></ul><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/table/" title="USDOT hazardous materials table from 49CFR 172.101.">49CFR USDOT Hazardous Materials Table</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/placards/" title="Images and definitions of hazardous materials placards required by the USDOT when transporting dangerous goods.">USDOT HazMat Placards</A><ul class="SM"><li><label for="PlacardDD" title="Select hazard class/division"><select onchange="window.location='/yogi/hazmat/placards/'+this.options[this.selectedIndex].value+'.html'" id="PlacardDD"><option SELECTED> Select Class/Div.<option value="class1">1 Explosives<option value="class2">2 Compressed Gas<option value="class3">3 Flammable Liquid<option value="class4">4 Flammable Solids<option value="class5">5 Oxidizers<option value="class6">6.1 Poisons<option value="class7">7 Radioactives<option value="class8">8 Corrosives<option value="class9">9 Miscellaneous<option value="etc">Related Markings</select></label></ul><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/compliance/quiz.html" title="Test your knowledge of USDOT HazMat placarding regulations (49CFR).">Placarding Quiz</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/placards/PlacardingCD.html" title="Contains clipart versions of hazmat placards. Includes USDOT hazmat transportation training modules as a free bonus.">USDOT HazMat Placards CD & training modules</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/compliance/200601ExceptionsExemptionsVariances.html" title="All Leniencies are not created equally, what are the differences?">Exceptions, Exemptions and Variances</A><li><A HREF="/yogi/hazmat/compliance/HazMatTransportionPermitSystem.html" title="Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hazardous materials transportation permitting system.">FMCSA HazMat Transportion Permit System</A></ul></ul></nav></div></div><div class="VB ColumnHeight ScreenOnly"></div></div><nav><div class="BN"><ul class="BNUL"><li class="BNLI"><A href="/yogi/privacy.html" class="BNA">Privacy Statement</A><li class="BNLI"><A href="/terms.html" class="BNA">Terms of Service</A><li class="BNLI"><a href="/yogi/about.html" class="BNA">About Us</a><li class="BNLI"><a href="/" class="BNA">Site Directory</a><li class="BNLI"><A href="/contact.html" class="BNA">Contact Us</a><li class="BNLI"><A href="http://twitter.com/envirochem" class="BNA">Follow Us on Twitter</a></ul></div></nav><footer><div class="Copyright">Copyright 1995 - 2024 Kenneth L Barbalace (<a href="https://KLBProductions.com/" title="Custom website development and database application development in Saco Maine.">J.K. 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