What is asbestos?

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?Asbestos? is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers which can be separated into thinthreads. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been used commercially:

• Chryso tile, or white asbestos;
  
  
• Crocidolite, or blue asbestos;
  
  
• Amosite, which usually has brown fibers; and
  
  
• Anthophyllite, which usually has gray fibers.

Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have rod-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.

Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick toclothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.

U.S. Govt