Causes of Asbestosis

What Causes Asbestosis?

The short answer is fairly clear: Asbestos, but just what is asbestos and what makes it so dangerous?

Asbestos is the collective name for unique substances from the serpentine and amphibole mineral families. Each of these substances is comprised of tiny fibres, which in turn are made up of millions of microscopic ‘fibrils’.

When these tiny fibres enter the lung, the body is unable to destroy them as it would with other foreign particles, and so instead of being harmlessly removed from the body, they remain in place and cause damage to the alveoli (tiny air sacs within the lung).

Serpentine Asbestos

Chrysotile Asbestos is the only type of asbestos from the serpentine family and is commonly known as White Asbestos. It is a very good heat insulator and so it was frequently used in building materials, boilers and even in brake linings for vehicles. The fibres in Chrysotile Asbestos are curly and are formed within sheets of crystals. While these fibres can potentially be less threatening than others, the popularity of Chrysotile asbestos through history has led to a huge volume still present today, and as a result that increases the chances of people suffering from the results of its inhalation.

Amphibole Asbestos

The other five types of Asbestos are from the amphibole family and they include:

Amosite is also known as Brown Asbestos, and mainly originates from Africa. It was commonly used in insulating board, ceiling tiles and other thermal insulation products.

Crocidolite, known as Blue Asbestos, is one of the most dangerous types because the fibres are so very thin they can easily become airborne and then get inhaled into lungs.

Tremolite fibres are particularly strong yet flexible and have great fire-proofing qualities, and can be woven into textiles for heat-resistance and insulation.

Anthophllite is one of the rarest forms of asbestos, and as a result has not contributed to as many deaths as other types, however it is still very dangerous and can be found, in very small quantities, in talcum powder.

Actinolite can present itself as white, green, grey or brown, and was used as an effective, light-weight insulation material. It has been found in products such as paints and sealants.

While the different types of asbestos have different sizes and shapes of fibres, and hence a variety of different uses, all have the capacity to break down into tiny particles which can then be inhaled. Once they enter the lung they stick to, and in some cases work their way in to, the lining of the lung, where the body cannot remove them. There they slowly start to break down causing health issues such as Asbestosis, plural thickening, lung cancer and even Mesothelioma.