Chemically, they can be assigned to two groups: the serpentine<\/em> or amphibole group<\/em>. Chrysotile<\/em> <\/strong>belongs only to the serpentine group. The other five minerals belong to the amphibole group. All types of asbestos<\/strong><\/em> differ mainly in their chemical chemical composition<\/strong><\/em> and in their appearance<\/em><\/strong>. They all crystallize completely into fibrous structures<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asbestos<\/strong> used to be known as the “miracle fiber<\/strong>” and was ideally suited for industrial purposes<\/em>, various building materials<\/em> and special products. At that time, however, the major health risks posed by serious respiratory diseases and cancer were not yet known. Due to the high risks, the mining and use of asbestos is banned in many countries. In many countries, there are already nationwide bans on the mining and use of asbestos<\/a> worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The asbestos fibers<\/strong> can be processed into various lengths by technical means in order to turn them into specialproducts. In many countries, however, suitable substitutes<\/strong><\/em> are used for these purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asbestos was already described as “imperishable<\/em>” in ancient times and its special properties were already being used for various purposes. Asbestos was later used for industrial products until many countries, such as Germany, introduced strict bans on asbestos. Asbestos continues to be mined in some countries around the world. An overview of the historical development of global asbestos production can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Properties of asbestos types:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chrysotile asbestos <\/strong>(white asbestos<\/strong>)<\/em> is the most commonly<\/em> used type of asbestos in industry<\/em>. The largest deposits and mining areas are located near the city of Asbestos in the Urals and in Ak-Dowurak in Siberia. There are around 900 sites worldwide. In Germany, these are mainly located in Bavaria and the Black Forest. They are also found in the Odenwald, near Bad Harzburg in North Rhine-Westphalia and in parts of eastern Germany. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chrysotile asbestos<\/em><\/strong> is characterized by the formation of very long <\/em>and easily processable fibres<\/em>. Due to their particular fineness<\/em>, they can also be spun and woven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of chrysotile fibers (source: GSA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Schadstoffanalytik mbH) Use of chrysotile asbestos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chrysotile<\/strong><\/em> was used particularly frequently for building houses<\/em>. Its admixture made it possible to produce thin structures<\/em> and panels<\/em>. These had a high tensile strength<\/em>, which was 3 to 10 times that of structural steel. Chrysotile was also a component of roof panels (Eternit panels)<\/em>, heat-resistant products<\/em>, seals<\/em>, electrical insulation<\/em> and other materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Crocidolite<\/strong> (blue asbestos)<\/em> is considered the most dangerous type of asbestos<\/em>. It can emit even more fine asbestos fibers than white asbestos and thus pollute the indoor air. It was largely mined in Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use of crocidolite asbestos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Crocidolite<\/em> was mainly used in the 1970s, mostly for building materials<\/em>, when the particular danger of its longitudinally cleavable fibers was not yet known. The asbestos fibers are released quickly, especially during heavy work such as grinding or hammering. Crocidolite asbestos was often used as an additive<\/em> in numerous materials such as fire protection boards<\/em>, floor coverings<\/em>, coupling coverings<\/em>, ventilation ducts<\/em>, pipes<\/em> and cement products<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The name actinolite<\/strong><\/em> is made up of the Greek words for “ray” and “stone”. Actinolite is found in over 3,000 locations worldwide, including in Germany, such as the Black Forest, Franconia, Lower Bavaria and the Odenwald. This type of asbestos often has a fibrous<\/em> or radial ray-like<\/em> and brittle appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of actinolite fibers (source: GSA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Schadstoffanalytik mbH) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Actinolite was often added as an insulating material<\/em> and is still used in many buildings today. Actinolite can also be found in dry construction products<\/em> and children’s toys<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The name anthophyllite<\/em> <\/strong>comes from the Greek for “flower” and “leaf”. The mineral anthophyllite <\/em>(gray asbestos) is extracted from talc and mined in Asia, Europe and the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Anthophyllite often<\/em> develops fibrous, radially radiating and granular aggregates<\/em>. It can also form long-prismatic crystals<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of anthophyllite fibers (source: GSA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Schadstoffanalytik mbH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anthophyllite often contaminated talc products<\/em> and thus talc powders<\/em> such as baby powder <\/em>and deodorant<\/em>. In addition, this type of asbestos was added to paints<\/em> and sealants<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The asbestos type amosite<\/strong> (brown asbestos)<\/em> is considered the second most dangerous type of asbestos<\/em> after crocidolite. The name amosite<\/em> is derived from the South African mining company A.M.O.S.<\/em> (Asbestos Mines of South Africa). The fibrous varieties of grunerite are referred to as amosite asbestos<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amosite<\/em> has been found in around 150 locations worldwide. Its main occurrence is in South Africa. It is also found in Australia, North and South America, China, Russia, Europe, India and Japan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amosite often develops needle-like to fibrous, radially radiating crystals<\/em>. It also forms aggregates with other minerals and is brittle in nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of amosite fibers (source: GSA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Schadstoffanalytik mbH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additives of Amosit <\/strong>can be found in paints<\/em>, asbestos cement products<\/em> such as ventilation ducts<\/em>, fire protection<\/em> and corrugated sheets<\/em>, floor coverings<\/em>, brake linings<\/em>, sealants<\/em>, mastics<\/em>, adhesives<\/em>, pipes<\/em>, spray compounds<\/em> and other materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like anthophyllite, tremolite is also tremolite<\/em> <\/strong>is also found in talcum powder<\/em>. It is considered the main contaminant of talc used for industrial or commercial purposes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tremolite<\/em> occurs in most metamorphic rocks. Around 3000 sites are known worldwide. In Germany, it has been found in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Bavaria, the Ore Mountains, Lower Saxony and the Vogtland region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tremolite often forms columnar-needle-shaped crystals<\/em>. These can form fibrous, radially radiating<\/em> and granular aggregates<\/em>. The fibrous tremolite is called asbestos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of tremolite fibers (source: GSA Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Schadstoffanalytik mbH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tremolite asbestos<\/em> fibers have been mined for industrial purposes<\/em> worldwide. It is also considered a highly carcinogenic type of asbestos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asbestos <\/strong>was used in the post-war period <\/em>and particularly frequently in the 1960s to 80s<\/em> until 1993 (when asbestos was banned in Germany). Asbestos fibers are often still detectable in older buildings. From the mid-1980s<\/em>, asbestos-free substitutes<\/em> were increasingly used for materials previously containing asbestos. From October 31, 1993, the ban on asbestos in Germany <\/em>prohibited both the placing on the market of<\/em> asbestos<\/em> and products containing asbestos and their use<\/em>. It can therefore be assumed that no building materials containing asbestos were used in Germany after 1993. In earlier years, asbestos was often used as an additive due to its good workability and its very good insulating and (heat) resistant properties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hazardous asbestos fibers are released particularly easily during refurbishment and renovation work and can be harmful to health. Asbestos exposure and concentrations can be determined using suitable measuring devices and analyses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The GSA measuring devices SG12<\/a> is suitable for measuring asbestos<\/em>. The SG12<\/a> can also be used for particle measurements<\/em> of the various dust fractions <\/em>such as A-dust<\/em> or E-dust<\/em>. The GSA measuring devices SG12 <\/strong> can also be used to carry out fibre measurements in accordance with VDI 3492<\/em> for the measurement of asbestos fibers<\/em> and AMF<\/em> (ceramic fibers and glass fibers).
<\/p>\n\n\n\nUse of asbestos and health hazards
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common properties of asbestos types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nTypes of asbestos – differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chrysotile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Types](\"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chrysotil-Fasern-REM-Bild-2-1-1024x768.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nCrocidolite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nActinolite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Types](\"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Aktinolith-Fasern-REM-Bild-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Use of actinolite asbestos<\/strong>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnthophyllite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Types](\"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Anthophylit-Fasern-REM-Bild-1024x768.jpg\")
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Use of anthophyllite asbestos<\/strong><\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmosite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Types](\"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Amosit-Fasern-REM-Bild-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Use of amosite asbestos<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nTremolite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Asbestos](\"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Tremolit-Fasern-REM-Bild-1024x768.jpg\")
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Use of Tremolite asbestos<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos in building products from the 60s to 80s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nAsbestos measurement with the GSA measuring devices SG12<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n