Having to live in fear of something that might hurt you is a life we don’t want to live. And it’s even harder if that something is almost invisible to the naked eye. That something I’m referring to is asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that forms naturally and was widely used around the 19th century due to its tensile strength, fire and chemical resistance.

What you need to know

It is very important to have adequate asbestos information in order to know the dos and don’ts when it comes to this material. Also, it is important to have an idea on what the effects of asbestos are when exposed. That is why we shall tackle about the important asbestos information you need to know when it comes to asbestos.

How can you be exposed to asbestos?

The most common way a person can be exposed to asbestos would be to inhale the fibers. Since the fibers are like dust they can easily be spread out by a gust of wind or a ventilation system where a person can then inhale it. Since most of asbestos usage is banned the most likely scenario to get exposed is when an old building with ACM (asbestos containing materials) gets renovated. In addition, products that were made at the time when asbestos was not banned may still be in circulation and might end up in your hands. So if you find yourself having or doing one of these things then it would be wise to brush up on your asbestos information.


(Asbestos Floor Tiling)

How do I know if it’s asbestos?

There really isn’t a definite answer to this since asbestos is not used in its pure form. Most of the manufacturers add asbestos to other material in order to make it more versatile. Hence, it is hard to point out with the naked eye what does or does not have asbestos in them. But with proper asbestos information, such as factors in considering for ACM and the most common visual cues for ACM, one might be able to avoid exposure.

Asbestos information: What are these factors?

  • Location – the location might tell you if the place is using ACM. For example, a heating pipe would most probably contain asbestos since it requires heat resistant materials.
  • Age of the building – If the building was made around the 19th century when asbestos was selling like pancakes then most likely some parts of it might contain asbestos.
  • Usage – Usage together with the age of the product might indicate that it has asbestos. Floor tiles in the 1950’s contained asbestos and if you’re living in an old building then it might be wise to have it checked out.

Asbestos information: Visual Clues for the 3 most common asbestos types

  • Chrysotile – this kind of asbestos is made from magnesium silicate and its fibers have a curly look to it. This is the most common kind of asbestos used and it is the poster child for asbestos. This is the stuff you most commonly see as an example on T.V. that is color white.
  • Chrosidolite – this asbestos is also fibrous and has a bluish tint to it.
  • Armosite – the kind of asbestos that has a brown or gray color.