Asbestos

Asbestos is the generic term for any member of the large group of fibrous, asbestiform (Definition- fiber length at least 5 times fiber width) minerals. Some were widely used for their heat resistant properties- in products from toasters; cladding in power stations and ships;  brake pads;  and fire-resistant building products,  or for their strengthening properties- (analogous to glass fibers in fiberglass/resin) in concrete sewer pipes and house siding shingles;  reinforced floor tiles; acoustical ceiling tiles;  wall plaster;  and certain rigid polymers. The most commonly used mineral, serpentine-group member chrysotile,  is white,  friable and can cause asbestosis- if enough of it's dust is inhaled,  the body's encapsulation response deep in the lung results in much-reduced lung tidal-volume similar to that in late-stage tuberculosis. Non-carcinogenic chrysotile only obstructs the lung. Amphibole-group members croccidolite, amosite,  anthophyllite,  actinolite,  and tremolite are associated with otherwise-rare mesothelioma,  even when exposure is limited- daily exposures to blue croccidolite,  some for only several weeks,  has been show to have lead,  decades later,  to the majority (all due to mesothelioma) of the fatalities among those exposed.

Other SourceWatch resources

 * Tort reform
 * James Hardie Industries
 * The Proposed U.S. Asbestos-Litigation Trust Fund