Table 2. Types of asbestos

Chrysotile

·       “white”

·       curled serpentine fibres

·       cleared from lungs by lymphatics

·       not thought to cause mesothelioma

·       may have a role in causing bronchogenic carcinoma

Amphibole

·       Rod-like

·       not cleared by lymphatics

·       accumulate in macrophages

·       associated with mesothelioma

Subtypes of amphibole asbestos

·       Crocidolite “blue” - particularly carcinogenic

·       Amosite - “brown” asbestos

·       Anthrophylite - mines with pure anthrophylite have a low reported incidence mesothelioma

·       Actinolite

·       Tremolite - has been implicated in an epidemic of mesothelioma in northwest Greece where it was used for whitewashing

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