Asbestos Alert: Three Interesting Facts About Asbestos

Here at Gowrie Contracts, we’re all about spreading asbestos awareness. Being a carcinogenic material that is the primary cause of four different serious diseases (asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and pleural thickening), it’s of the utmost importance that it is dealt with carefully and professionally.

In playing our part to continue raising awareness of asbestos (did you know that asbestos still kills thousands of people in the UK every year?), we’ve decided to list three interesting facts about asbestos that you may not know. Read on below to learn more!

1. There are Six Different Types of Asbestos

When people refer to asbestos, they are usually referring to a singular material. Despite this, there are actually six different types of naturally occurring asbestos minerals.

These are:

●     Chrysotile (white asbestos)

●     Amosite (brown asbestos)

●     Crocidolite (blue asbestos)

●     Tremolite

●     Actinolite

●     Anthophyllite



Chrysolite is the most common type of asbestos, while amosite is one of the most hazardous. The latter two were not as widely used, however all types have still been used in industrial applications.

2. Asbestos Fibres are Microscopic

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t actually see asbestos fibres. In mineral form, asbestos is harmless, yet when it’s damaged or disturbed, it releases fibres; it is these fibres that are harmful, since they become airborne and can be inhaled or ingested.

The issue with this is that these fibres are also microscopic, so they aren’t actually visible to the human eye. It is the materials that commonly contain asbestos that are more easily identifiable, although asbestos testing must be undertaken to confirm whether or not any of these harmful fibres are actually present.

It is due to this inconspicuous nature of its fibres that asbestos is considered to be a ‘silent killer’.

3. Asbestos is Still Used in Some Countries

Despite the widely known and proven health risks that are associated with asbestos exposure, there are still some countries around the world that continue to mine and/or use asbestos for industrial and commercial purposes. There are hundreds of thousands of tonnes of asbestos that are still being mined annually by these countries for such uses.

Some of these countries include Russia, the US (though they no longer mine asbestos, the mineral is still imported, used and sold both raw and in products), China and Brazil.

Asbestos Experts

If you come across a material that you believe could contain asbestos, then it is imperative that you contact professionals to come and remove this safely and efficiently.

We at Gowrie Contracts are licensed asbestos contractors in Scotland, with the necessary experience, training and qualifications required to carry out these removals.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today if you require our services or would like to learn more.