Asbestos is a mineral that is crystallised and form long thin fibres. Asbestos is naturally white, brown or blue fibrous mineral. Asbestos is popular because of its large contribution in many industries. It has many practical applications because of its durability and strength. It is considered as the world’s most valuable resources. The fibres of asbestos have high electrical and chemical resistance. The heat resistant property that the asbestos possesses is used in many products. Asbestos contains both oxygen and silicon. Inhalation and long exposure to the asbestos fibres is dangerous and bad to your health. This cause health diseases and illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. There are about 30 varieties of these minerals. The three most common types are chrysotile, the white asbestos, amosite, the brown asbestos, and crocidolite, the blue asbestos.
Amosite (Asbestos Mines of South Africa) or brown asbestos is commonly found in the mines of Africa and belongs to the group referred to as “amphibole”. Amphibole fibres are not hard and flexible unlike in chrysotile asbestos. The fibres of amphibole asbestos are brittle. It is very thin, as thin as a needle. It is usually use in pipe insulation and cements in many industries, trades and productions. It is also an additive to some plastics. Brown asbestos is frequently used mostly in thermal insulation products as a fire retardant. People who are exposed in this type of asbestos, you will most likely to have diseases such as lung cancer. Brown asbestos is considered to be the most dangerous among all other types of asbestos. Because of this, the use of brown asbestos is banned in some other countries.
Asbestos has its own advantages and disadvantages in some other ways. It has a great contribution in some industries and products but prolong exposure will affect your health.