What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occuring mineral. Its crystals appear as long, thin fibres which are themselves made of smaller, microscopic fibres.
Disturbing asbestos and then inhaling these fibres is a serious health hazard. Asbestos causes cancer. The world didn’t know this until the 1970s, before then asbestos was in common use.
Types of asbestos
The most frequently found is chrysotile asbestos often used as corrugated roofing for outbuildings or in sheets and panels. Most people are aware of blue, white and brown asbestos (but those names are misleading).
What does asbestos look like?
The only way to identify asbestos is to test it. No-one, not even experts, can tell what sort of asbestos is present just by looking. Despite the colour names .. blue asbestos, brown asbestos, practically .. asbestos is generally white.
Here in the UK the most important thing is its condition. If your asbestos is in poor repair and is releasing fibres, you need to take action.
