Tremolite asbestos belongs to amphibole class asbestos. It has needle-like, brittle, and straight fibers which makes it easily inhalable. The substance has good heat resistant properties and manufacturers wove it into fabrics.

Its color ranges from milky white to dark green.

Just like any other type of asbestos, exposure to this form can result in mesothelioma cancer.

It is highly carcinogenic and poses greater risks especially to construction workers and occupants of buildings that integrate it.

Properties of Tremolite Asbestos

Tremolite asbestos contains high magnesium a feature that makes it less flexible than other forms of asbestos. This characteristic made it an unusable substance for industrial manufacturing because the undertaking of processing it is complicated.

Nevertheless, this substance exists naturally in other products used commercially such as mineral talc and vermiculate.

The risk factor of Tremolite is almost similar to crocidolite due to its sharp and straight fibers. Owing to this scenario, it is a banned substance and it is less used in industrial and commercial applications. More importantly, experts feel that it is not more of a causative agent of mesothelioma like other forms of asbestos.

Tremolite Asbestos Uses

As we mentioned earlier, the Tremolite fibers make the substance unsuitable for manufacturing. But, the silent killer occurs naturally in many materials that were initially used in construction and other industries across the world.

For instance, mineral vermiculite consisted of a high percentage of Tremolite asbestos. More importantly, insulation materials like Zonolite attic insulation have traces of this harmful substance.

Also, before 1980, mineral talc contained Tremolite within its structure.

Some of the common products that contain Tremolite include:

• Attic insulation
• Soil additives or substitutes
• Potting soil
• Talcum powder
• Talcum-containing cosmetics and plants

Toxicity of Tremolite Asbestos

As compared to chrysotile, tremolite asbestos is not as toxic. The history of tremolite starts when vermiculite ore was shipped from Libby to other parts of the world. This ore was sent to at least 26 regional plants across the globe.

It found its applications as insulation and sold under the brand name Zonolite. Back then people didn't know the negative health implications caused by the substance. Uncounted contractors used the products in buildings.

The process of using vermiculate involved heating it at very high temperatures. This scenario increased the chances of exposure through inhaling.

How do you Find Products with Asbestos?

With all the negative health effects of tremolite asbestos, you should be cautious and on the lookout of asbestos in old buildings. In particular, if you discover zonolite insulation, this should act as a red flag. Always remember never to use a DIY approach to remove asbestos contamination.

It is always a perfect idea to call a professional to handle the process. This is because it is very easy to expose yourself to asbestos especially tremolite which is easily inhalable.

Exposure to Naturally Occurring Asbestos

As we've mentioned, asbestos is sometimes a natural substance. Therefore, there are some regions in the world that pose a higher risk of naturally occurring asbestos exposure. Regions throughout Turkey, Northern Corsica, Mountains of Cyprus, and Northwest Greece, in particular, have deposits of naturally occurring tremolite asbestos.

Statistics show that there are high cases of mesothelioma cancer and respiratory-related infections in these regions. More importantly, most of the buildings in these regions were constructed with materials containing NOA, which has traces of tremolite.

If traveling to these regions, be on the lookout for such buildings as they pose a serious health concern.

What Happens if you get Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure?

If you get an asbestos-related infection, you should try to figure out your place of exposure. Have a specialist to check for traces of the harmful compound in your house.

If the exposure was due to someone's else negligence, you should consider filing a claim or lawsuit. Get a good personal injury attorney to help you with the undertaking.

Final Thought

Tremolite asbestos is a naturally occurring and harmful substance found in old buildings and insulations. The substances cause serious health concerns so you should have an expert analyze your house to see if there are traces of the silent killer.

For more information on tremolite asbestos, contact us.