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Asbestos is the name for a group of natural fibrous silicate minerals that are known in particular for their heat-, fire- and chemical-resistant properties. The minerals occur naturally all over the world and are mainly mined in Russia, South Africa, Australia and Canada. The best-known types of asbestos are chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos). The crystalline asbestos fibers are microscopic and can easily become airborne and be inhaled. Asbestos has been used in a variety of building materials and products because of its useful properties, but it poses significant health risks.
Due to its special properties, asbestos was and is used worldwide in a variety of applications, including as an insulating material for buildings, in fireproof products, cement, brake linings and even textiles. In most industrialized countries, the use of asbestos is now severely restricted or completely banned, as the risks to health became known as early as 1900. Nevertheless, numerous old buildings and products containing asbestos can still be found today. Numerous health protection measures must be taken, especially when renovating and demolishing old buildings.
Smaller asbestos fibers that get airborne through abrasion and processing can be inhaled. If the fibers enter the lungs, they can become lodged in the lung tissue due to their sharp-edged shape, causing inflammation and scarring. Long-term exposure can lead to serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases often occur decades after exposure, making early diagnosis and treatment difficult.
Asbestos is detected and measured using specialized methods, mainly light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). For environmental and workplace monitoring, there are legal regulations that require regular checks and risk assessments to minimize exposure to asbestos fibres in indoor air.
Did you know that asbestos was first mentioned in the book De lapidibus by Theophrastus of Eresos in ancient Greece? And that, according to legend, Charlemagne amazed his guests with a tablecloth made of asbestos, which he threw into an open fire to clean it?
You can find this and other exciting information about asbestos in the video from our history series.