Asbestos Details

What is Asbestos? Asbestos refers to a group of naturally-occurring fibrous minerals, consisting of six different types. A "fibre" is defined as a particle that is longer than 5 micrometres (μm) and has a length to width ratio of at least 3:1.

Regulations: Canadian regulations also specify that asbestos fibres must be less than 3 μm wide.

Details:

Based on their physical and chemical properties, asbestos can be classified into two major groups: serpentine and amphibole.

Serpentine: Serpentine fibres are long, flexible, and curved. These fibres can be woven together. The main type of serpentine asbestos is chrysotile (white asbestos), which is commonly used in manufacturing.

Amphibole: Amphibole fibres are straight and stiff. These fibres are generally brittle and have a rod- or needle-like shape, limiting their commercial usefulness. There are five sub-types of amphibole asbestos, including crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.

What is covered in this document?

This document is part of a series of documents on asbestos, including:

Asbestos - What is it?

Asbestos - Health Effects

Asbestos - Control Strategies for Workplaces

Asbestos - In the Home

Where is asbestos found in Canada?

Asbestos is found in large natural deposits or as contaminants in other minerals. For example, tremolite asbestos can be found in deposits of chrysotile, vermiculite, and talc. Historically, a significant portion of the world's asbestos production was concentrated in southern Quebec, known as the "Serpentine Belt."

Where was asbestos used?

Asbestos was widely used in various manufactured products due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. Before 1990, it was commonly used for insulating buildings, fireproofing, and noise reduction. Industries, construction, and commercial sectors used asbestos in products such as building materials, friction materials, industrial furnaces, textiles, insulation, and more.

Why was asbestos used in so many products?

Asbestos possesses properties that make it resistant to heat, fire, chemicals, and biological breakdown. It does not dissolve in water or evaporate. These properties, along with its wear and friction characteristics, tensile strength, and insulation capabilities, made asbestos commercially desirable for a wide range of products.

What are the concerns about asbestos?

Asbestos is a friable material, meaning it can crumble, pulverize, and release small fibres and dust into the air when dry. Inhalation of asbestos fibres during manufacturing or use poses significant health risks. Long-term exposure to asbestos has been linked to diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. However, if materials containing asbestos are tightly bound, in good condition, sealed, isolated, or left undisturbed, the health risks are minimal.

Where is asbestos banned?

Asbestos has been entirely banned in 39 countries since 1983, including the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Croatia, and Saudi Arabia. Other countries have imposed severe restrictions or are phasing out its use. In the United States, all new uses of asbestos were banned in 1989, and Canada announced a commitment to ban asbestos and asbestos-containing products by 2018.

What are the international hazard ratings for asbestos?

In Canadian workplaces, asbestos is classified under the WHMIS 1988 as "D2A - Poisonous and infectious material - Other effects - Very toxic." It is also classified as carcinogenic by organizations such as the International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), US National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the European Union (EU).