Serpentine (Chrysotile)
There are many forms that the material asbestos comes in. One of the most important forms of asbestos is serpentine, or more commonly called, Chrysotile. What makes asbestos unique in general is its ability to be very strong. Chrysotile is one of the asbestos substances that hold a higher tensile strength than any of the other forms. There are different colors that this type of material can come in. As a whole, the colors can range from brown to grey. Individual fibers are typically white and silky in texture.
The uses of asbestos were nearly endless, especially between the 1940s and 1970s. Asbestos was used from industrial use to insulation for homes. Over 90% of serpentine use was for manufacturing pipes, cement, sheets and shingles. Many counties around the world, including the Untied States, still use the chrysotile form of asbestos today in regulated industrial areas for non-friable materials. What most people did not know about asbestos many years ago were the devastating health effects that would happen to those who inhaled the toxic asbestos dust. Asbestosis and mesothelioma were the number one contracted diseases from coming into exposure with asbestos fibers. Fortunately for Chrysotile, it is a form of asbestos that creates the least amount of dangerous dust that can become airborne. This is one of the reasons that this type of asbestos can be used in regulated areas. When given the proper protection and training of how to use the material, it shows to be less hazardous to the human body as other forms of asbestos.
