3 types of Asbestos - White, Blue and Brown

This articles details 3 types of asbestos.

Types of Asbestos

There are 3 types of asbestos often known as white, brown and blue due their colour. Their scientific names are chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite.

Each of the different types of asbestos have been used in thousands of products for centuries until 1999 when in the UK the use of all asbestos types was banned be the Asbestos Regulations 1999.

Although generally recognisable by their colour, identification of asbestos cannot be made by colour alone as it was usually mixed with other ingredients to change its appearance.

Here you can learn Where Asbestos is Found. Everyone who works where asbestos could be present must undertake annual Asbestos Awareness training.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral found in nature that had many beneficial properties as a building material, like fire resistance and insulation. There are 3 types of asbestos often known as white, brown and blue due their colour.

White asbestos is by far the most common but each has been used in different products for centuries right across the UK right up until 1999 when the use of all 3 types of asbestos were banned.

One of the most dangerous aspects of asbestos is that it’s fibrous, meaning that when it’s broken up, miniscule fragments of the material are thrown up. There are 2 types of asbestos fibre known as Serpentine and Amphibole.

When these are breathed deeply into the lung, the fibres can lodge themselves in your bronchial passage, causing severe irritation to the sensitive lining of the lungs.

Asbestos is considered carcinogenic because it causes cancers and other illnesses. Therefore, the longer you work with asbestos, the higher the risks.

Lets look at the 3 types of asbestos in detail.

Chrysotile, or white asbestos

Chrysotile, or white asbestos, is the most used form of asbestos and can be found in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors of homes and businesses.

More than 95% of all asbestos used around the world was of the chrysotile variety.

In 1992, limitations to the use of chrysotile (white asbestos) were introduced.

It was not until 1999 that the ban on the Import, supply and use of chrysotile products was introduced.

There are two types of asbestos fibre known as Serpentine and Amphibole. Serpentine fibres come from Chrysotile, or White Asbestos.

Amostie or Brown Asbestos

Amosite, also known as brown asbestos or Grunerite, was used most frequently in sheet and pipe insulation, ceiling and floor tiles and thermal insulating board, which can contain up to 40% of asbestos.

Amosite, or Brown Asbestos has amphibole fibres which are more dangerous because when they fragment, they split straight and so are more easily breathed into the lungs. Brown asbestos has needle-like fibres.

In 1983, a voluntary ban on Amosite (brown asbestos) came into effect. However, as these were only voluntary bans, their effects were severely limited. By the mid 1980’s though, the use of brown asbestos in the UK was governed by legislation which restricted and banned its use.

Crocidolite, or blue asbestos

Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, is known for having the best heat resistance and was commonly used to insulate steam engines.

Crocidolite or blue asbestos fibres split even finer than Amosite, which makes it the most dangerous asbestos material of all. Because the fibres are minerals, they never break down or decay in the body, and so the body’s defence system is unable to destroy them naturally.

The large scale use of asbestos and its subsequent impact on health has led to voluntary asbestos bans in the UK with the first in 1970 when Crocidolite, or blue asbestos was banned.

Where is asbestos found?

If you wish to know more see our article on Where is Asbestos Found.