Red Bank Asbestos Types Lawyers
There's no doubt that most people in the United States have heard of asbestos. The prevalence of commercials, news stories and magazine articles has raised the social consciousness. Unfortunately, many news items do not have the time to explain the different types of asbestos, the history or the types of products that use asbestos. At Keefe Bartels, L.L.C., we strive to provide our clients with as much information as they would like.
There are two families of asbestos that are differentiated by their crystalline structures. The two families are Amphibole — which contain chain-like mineral fibers — and Serpentine — which contain layered sheets of mineral fibers.
Amphibole Asbestos
There are five different types of asbestos that fit into the amphibole family:
- Amosite, commonly referred to as "brown" asbestos, derives its name from the asbestos mines in South Africa. Amosite was used primarily as a fire retardant in most thermal insulation products, and is now banned in many countries due to its hazardous nature.
- Crocidolite, commonly referred to as "blue" asbestos, occurs naturally in several countries including Australia, Bolivia, South Africa, Canada and many countries that made up the former Soviet Union. Crocidolite was found to be much less heat resistant than other types of asbestos and is no longer mined.
- Actinolite is one of the more rare forms of asbestos. Actinolite exists mainly as a contaminant in other minerals and was not used commercially.
- Anthophyllite is much like actinolite as it is quite rare and exists mainly as a contaminant in other minerals. It was not used commercially.
- Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate materials. A fibrous variety of tremolite is used as asbestos. The inhalation of these toxic fibers can lead to a range of asbestos-related diseases.
Serpentine Asbestos
- Chrysotile, commonly referred to as "white" asbestos, is the most common type of asbestos. Approximately 90 percent of all asbestos in the United States is chrysotile. It has been linked with diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos fibers are durable and resistant to both heat and fire. For these reasons, the fibers were used in several thousand different types of products including consumer products and building materials. Since asbestos was so pervasive in products and buildings, it can be difficult to limit your exposure to this hazardous material. To learn more about asbestos, asbestosis or mesothelioma do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with an attorney at our New Jersey office.
Contact Our Firm
If you have questions regarding mesothelioma or asbestosis, contact Keefe Bartels, L.L.C., by simply calling us at 877-ATTY-24-7 or by completing the contact form on this website. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the needs of our clients. All consultations are completely free of charge, and we are happy to meet at your home or any other location convenient to you.
