Amosite asbestos is also called brown asbestos or, more technically, grunerite. The term “amosite” comes from a trade name, an acronym of the business name Asbestos Mines of South Africa (AMOS), where much of this type of asbestos was obtained. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), amosite is the second most commonly used mineral type of asbestos in the U.S. (after chrysotile or “serpentine” asbestos).
Amosite and Cancer
As a form of asbestos, amosite has caused many cases of cancer (including mesothelioma) in people of many countries but especially near the amosite mines in South Africa, the world’s main commercial source of the substance. The workers who mined and processed amosite have cancer rates far worse than those of the general population.
Amosite in the U.S.
Any fibrous amosite used in the U.S. is most likely from the mines in Transvaal, South Africa. It was often used in the 1970s in the U.S. because builders valued the heat-resistance and tensile strength of amosite. Asbestos versions of the material were used mostly in thermal insulation products and building products, such as:
- Ceiling tiles
- Roof tiles
- Floor tiles
- Plumbing insulation
- Insulation board
- Chemical insulation
- Gaskets
- Cement sheets
- Electrical and telecommunication insulation
Amosite Inhalation
The fibers of amosite are long and thin, and they can be broken into smaller, needle-like pieces. Fragments of amosite fibers are sometimes identified in building materials. As with other types of asbestos (there are six types in all), amosite is less of a danger when it is trapped in place in a product. It is when the brown asbestos is being installed, removed, or manipulated (or when its fibers are released into the air because of deterioration or damage) that the human beings in the area are vulnerable to amosite asbestos inhalation.
Learn More About Amosite Exposure
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a disease that may be due to exposure to brown asbestos, it may be time to call a lawyer. You may qualify to recover monetary compensation for damages including medical expenses, necessary long-term treatment programs, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering. To schedule a free consultation with an asbestos attorney to learn more about your legal options, contact Mesothelioma Treatment Centers today. We can also provide you with general resources and information about amosite and other forms of asbestos.
