Two Types of Asbestos Fibers

Asbestos fibers come in two main groups, the amphiboles and chrysotile.

Chrysotile are white asbestos. It is also called "Serpentine" fibers. They are long and curled.

The amphiboles are long straight fibers and include actinolite, amosite, anthrophyllite, crocidolite, and tremolite. They are more likely to cause cancer of the lining of the lung that is commonly called mesothelioma. This results in scarring on the lining of the lung, also called the pleura. Both groups can cause disease of the lung.

Patient studies, where the patients are exposed to chrysotile fibers show only a moderate increase in risk of cancer. Exposure to amphibole fibers or to both types of fibers will double the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer by two.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a standard for workplace exposure to asbestos (0.2 fibers/milliliter of air). This is an industry standard, even though no one is sure what is a truly safe level of asbestos exposure. There is no proof that minimal exposure to asbestos fibers will not result in lung cancer.

The risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer is increased dramatically when the patient is a smoker. There does not seem to be any evidence that indicates there is a relationship between the length of time the patient smokes, and the risk of cancer.
Inexperienced attempts to remove asbestos can release dangerous levels of the fibers.