What is asbestos and why does it pose so many problems?

All asbestos is a class 1 – carcinogen (cancer forming) material

Asbestos is the name for several silicate minerals which are highly fibrous with separable long thin fibres. Asbestos fibres are strong and flexible, having a tensile strength far greater than steel, yet flexible enough to be spun and woven. Due to asbestos being resistant to fire and heat, it is a poor conductor of electricity and has excellent thermal and acoustic properties and certain types being highly resistant to acids and alkalis. Asbestos has been widely used for many applications making it useful for a number of industrial and commercial uses.

The two main groups that asbestos is known as are:

Serpentine. (Chrysotile - white asbestos) Mineral or rock consisting mainly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia.

Amphibole. A group of minerals with similar crystal structures containing a silicate chain and combinations of chiefly sodium, calcium, iron and aluminium.

The most common types of these asbestos minerals are known as: - Chrysotile (White Asbestos), Amosite (Brown Asbestos), Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos), Anthophylite, Tremolite and Actinolite.