What is crocidolite used for?

Crocidolite was also used in common commercial products in the U.K. Some considered crocidolite to be the best of all the asbestos fibres, due to its flexibility, strength and chemical resistance. These properties led to it being used extensively in battery casings.

Where is crocidolite found?

It is most commonly found in Western Australia, Bolivia and South Africa. Crocidolite asbestos accounted for only four percent of all of the asbestos mined commercially in this country. Its limited use was a result of its lower heat resistance than some other forms of asbestos.

Can asbestos affect your kidneys?

Exposure to asbestos may lead to renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, an Italian study shows. The link to kidney cancer adds to the horrific history of asbestos, a substance definitively recognized as a cause of mesothelioma, lung cancer and a variety of other respiratory illnesses.

Why is crocidolite toxic?

The first evidence of increased risk of lung cancer after inhalation of asbestos fibers dates back to the 1950s. All forms of asbestos—chrysotile and amphiboles, including crocidolite, amosite, and tremolite—are carcinogenic to the human lung, although chrysotile’s potency may be lower than that of other types.

What does crocidolite look like?

crocidolite, also called Blue Asbestos, a gray-blue to leek-green, fibrous form of the amphibole mineral riebeckite. It has a greater tensile strength than chrysotile asbestos but is much less heat-resistant, fusing to black glass at relatively low temperatures.

What does erionite look like?

It usually is found in volcanic ash that has been altered by weathering and ground water. Erionite forms brittle, wool-like fibrous masses in the hollows of rock formations. Its color varies from white to clear, and it looks like transparent, glass-like fibers.

Can mesothelioma cause kidney failure?

If mesothelioma metastasizes to the kidneys, it can cause renal failure. This can cause blood in the urine, back pain, anemia, and more. However, outside of metastasized tumors, mesothelioma is not directly associated with causing kidney failure.

What diseases can be caused by asbestos?

Asbestos can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:

• Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum).
• Asbestos-related lung cancer.
• Asbestosis.
• Pleural thickening.

What are the properties of the crocidolite?

Crocidolite has a high-temperature resistance and an extremely high resistance to acids. The material is also highly brittle and friable. Because crocidolite is naturally formed in bundles of long, sharp fibers, it is more readily inhaled and causes more rapid health consequences than any other asbestos form.