Types of Asbestos

Four types of asbestos have been used in products or materials on the market. These are:

• Chrysotile - white asbestos
• Crocidolite - blue asbestos
• Amosite - asbestos with brown fibers
• Anthophyllite - asbestos with gray fibers

Each of these types of asbestos fit into one of two forms: amphibole and serpentine. Amphiboles have brittle, rod-like fibers. Serpentines have flexible, curved fibers. About 90% of all serpentine asbestos is chrysotile, while the other types of asbestos are amphibole.

Chrysotile is the only type of asbestos still used today. It is less dusty and the human body can get rid of it more easily than it can get rid of the amphibole types of asbestos. Studies confirm that very few cases of mesothelioma can be attributed to chrysotile.

Amphibole fibers stay in the lungs longer and are more likely to cause mesothelioma and other diseases than the chrysotile type of asbestos. Studies have also shown that amphibole asbestos minerals are more toxic than chrysotile.