Types of asbestos

There are 2 main forms of asbestos – serpentine and amphiboles.

 Serpentine fibers are coiled and flexible. Chrysotile is the only classification of serpentine fiber and it is the most widely used form of asbestos.

 Amphiboles are fine, rod-like fibers. There are 5 main types – actinolyte, amosite, anthrophylite, crocidolite, and tremolite. Crocidolites are considered to be the most carcinogenic.

How?

Asbestos fibers are inhaled into the nose, throat, windpipe, or bronchi (breathing tubes of the lungs).  The asbestos fibers stick to the mucus inside the air passages and can either be coughed up or swallowed.  The long, thin, fibers may reach the ends of the small airways and penetrate into the lining of the lung and chest wall.  These fibers may then directly harm mesothelial cells and eventually cause mesothelioma.