Asbestos

Asbestos (Greek ????????: a-, "not"; sbestos, "extinguishable") describes any of a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate variety. The name is derived for its historical use in lamp wicks; the resistance of asbestos to fire has long been exploited for a variety of purposes. It was used in fabrics such as Egyptian burial cloths and Charlemagne's tablecloth, which, according to legend, he threw in a fire to clean. Asbestos occurs naturally in many forms (see below); it is mined from metamorphic deposits.

External links

Mineral links

• Parachrysotile (asbestos) at the webmineral.com Mineral Database
• Univ. of Minn.: Asbestos

Health

• Asbestos and Occupational Health in the World
• Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Asbestos Toxicity
• Health History Source: Article by the SafetyLine Institute - WorkSafe - Western Australian state government
• British Government Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Cleanup and the environment

• U.S. EPA Asbestos Home Page
• Asbestos in Schools
• Asbestos Consultancy and Management Services UK
• HSE Asbestos Awareness Campaign
• UK Asbestos Management Software
• Health and Safety - Asbestosis (TUC Resources, UK)
• White Gold Pioneers: Asbestos Mining — The origins of asbestos mining, illustrated with many early photographs