WHAT IS ASBESTOS?

Asbestos is the generic term for a group of naturally occurring highly toxic fibrous silicate minerals with high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to thermal, chemical, and electrical conditions.

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Chemically, asbestos minerals contain silicon and oxygen atoms in their molecular structure. Asbestos is also resistant to heat and corrosion.

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Asbestos fibers are 5 micrometers or longer with a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 3 to 1.

Asbestos includes the mineral fibers chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, and any asbestos-containing material (ACM) or presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) that have been chemically treated or altered.

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Asbestos may also be “friable” or “non-friable”:

• Friable asbestos is material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight or area that is crumbly, dusty, or powdery. It can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder form using the hands. Most asbestos-containing material is friable. Examples include sprayed coatings or insulation, lagging, loose asbestos, or asbestos in its raw state.

• Non-friable asbestos is material containing more than 1% asbestos that is held within another material and cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder using the hands.