The difference between serpentine and amphibole asbestos groups

We know that asbestos = bad, but are there different levels of bad? And is all asbestos the same? As it turns out, no. There are different types of asbestos, and each plays a different role or is treated in a different way. Read on to learn about the various types of asbestos fibres, so that you can be well-informed for any future discoveries! 

The Six Types of Asbestos

Before we get into the two asbestos categories of serpentine versus amphibole, we’ll briefly discuss the six types of asbestos that fall into those two categories. You can read about them in more detail here.

Chrysotile – White Asbestos

Chrysotile asbestos comes from the serpentine family. This type of material is white with a fine, short, and curly kind of asbestos fibre with heat-resistant properties. This type of asbestos is most commonly found in building materials and automobile products.

Crocidolite – Blue Asbestos

Blue asbestos, known as crocidolite, is not as widely used as the other asbestos types, but that doesn’t make it any less deadly. It has long, sharp, brittle fibres that break down and become airborne easily.

Tremolite

Tremolite is a creamy white to dark green variety of asbestos that gets its colouring based on the iron content. This asbestos has a high magnesium content and was a common type of asbestos found in paint, talc, sealant, and cloth. It is associated with the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

Amosite – Brown Asbestos

Amosite is thought to have one of the highest cancer rates out of all asbestos types. It’s mostly mined in Africa and was used in a range of building materials, including those in NZ. 

Actinolite

Actinolite was used for its fire-proofing and insulating properties. It was also commonly found in plasterboard, sealant, and paint. It looks and feels similar to tremolite.

Anthophyllite

While there’s a link between mesothelioma and anthophyllite, this type of asbestos is not as commonly related to cancer as others. It’s grey or brown in colour and was often used in composite flooring. It also used to be found in talcum powder.

Serpentine Asbestos

The six asbestos types above can be further categorised by the fibre structure. Serpentine refers to the fibres being curly, or serpentine, while other types are straight and thin. The most common type of asbestos – both naturally and used industrially, is chrysotile asbestos, which is a form of serpentine asbestos.

This form of asbestos makes up around 95 per cent of all types used in manufacturing processes. It is also the more flexible of asbestos fibre types. Due to its effectiveness as a binding agent, it was used in sealants, floor tiles, linoleum, and even car products like gaskets. From World War II and well into the 1970s, chrysotile was a popular roofing, shingle, and siding material.

Amphibole Asbestos

Chrysotile fits into the serpentine category due to its curly makeup. However, the remaining five types of asbestos (tremolite, amosite, crocidolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite) fall into the amphibole category. 

The term ‘amphibole’ is used to describe the makeup of these asbestos fibres, which is thin, short, stiff, and needle-like.

According to studies, it takes less exposure to amphibole types of asbestos to cause cancer, especially compared to serpentine cancer. This is due to the different structure of the fibres that are easier to become airborne.

Are All Asbestos Types Dangerous?

If you believe that your home contains any type of asbestos, then it’s time to call in a trained asbestos removal team in NZ. Their job is to treat all asbestos as the harmful carcinogens that they are. It doesn’t matter which of the five are present in your residential or commercial property. They can all pose a risk.

All types of asbestos are known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other severe health problems. Some asbestos types are just quicker to cause damage than others.

At one time, projects were underway to identify the most toxic variety, but the more pressing priority became making sure that all asbestos and asbestiform minerals were regulated.

Where is Asbestos Hiding in My Property?

Regardless of what type of asbestos you’re aware of, it’s essential to know that it can be found in your home or business if it was built or renovated before 2000. Asbestos materials are common in the moulding, ridging, manhole framing, ventilators, and roof sheeting of industrial buildings, just to name a few. Unless disturbed or damaged, these materials have minimal risk of causing harm. 

It can also be found in flooring, baseboards, water tanks, siding, roofing, and more, of residential homes. 

Seek Help from a Team for All Different Asbestos Fibre Types

It doesn’t matter whether serpentine or amphibole asbestos is present in your home, it’s essential to seek help for the removal of it all if you are about to undertake renovations or believe it is damaged or exposed. Get in touch with a certified and trained team of asbestos removal experts to find out more.