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What is Crocidolite Asbestos?


Crocidolite asbestos is a blue silicate mineral and is one of the most dangerous forms of asbestos.  It is also known as Riebeckite and aside from its blue color, it is also distinguishable by its sodium content and very fine fibrous strands which are easily lodged in the lungs.  It is because of the nature of this mineral that almost 20% of its miners will die of an asbestos related disease.  The blue color of Crocidolite asbestos explains its nickname as “blue asbestos,” which is in contrast to brown asbestos (Amosite) and common white asbestos (Chrysotile).  It is a brittle mineral with a somewhat silky appearance.  Other forms of this asbestos have a “wooly” look to it, reflecting its fine fibers.  The chemical formula of Crocidolite asbestos is: 

[ [Na2] [(Fe2+)3 (Fe3+)2 ] [ (OH)2|Si8 O22]This is much more complicated that other forms of asbestos, contains no magnesium ions, but shares most other common elements, with the exception of sodium, with the other five typical forms of asbestos.

What is the risk from Crocidolite asbestos in the US?

Crocidolite asbestos was not mined in the US, but was used in spray on insulation solutions, electrical wire insulation, cement sheets, tiles, fireproofing, waterproofing and even steam pipes and ovens.  Crocidolite asbestos was also used in acid battery casings.  Crocidolite asbestos has the highest temperature resistance of all forms of asbestos.  Predictably, this meant that it was used for many steam engine insulating purposes.Crocidolite asbestos was by no means durable however and most forms that exist today are subject to breakdown where they will almost certainly release fine fibers into the air.  For this reason, as well as clear danger to miners, Crocidolite asbestos has long been out of commercial use.

How do I know if I have been sickened by Crocidolite asbestos?

The hair-like fibers of Crocidolite asbestos are well suited to catching in the lungs of unsuspecting victims.  The way the body reacts to the presence of asbestos is the root of asbestos related illness.  The first sign of potential damage from Crocidolite asbestos is decreased lung function.  Coughing up blood and fluid, with an increasingly worse cough is the first sign that a doctor should be consulted.  The embedded Crocidolite asbestos fibers turn the lungs leathery and hard.  By losing elasticity, lung capacity lowers dramatically and the illness will worsen as fluid fills the lungs and the victim suffocates.Weight loss and weakness from oxygen deprivation are sure signs of illness from this form of asbestos.Only a doctor’s examination and x-rays can determine the extent of exposure related illness.  An exposure relatedness illness is a prerequisite for filing litigation.

What recourse is available to workers exposed to Crocidolite asbestos?

The government will provide for Medicare payments for some individuals sickened by asbestos, especially federal employees that have contracted it while working for the government.  State worker compensation boards also have provisions to help those crippled by an asbestos related disease.  Other programs exist for federal employees, long shore and harbor workers, and Veterans.There are no national laws to compensate those that have been exposed to asbestos.  A national trust fund, intended to compensate workers injured by asbestos, has been proposed in Congress multiple times but has never passed into law.  Such legislation is unlikely to pass until the full extent of worker asbestos exposure has been uncovered.If you are seeking a civil law resolution to damages caused by Crocidolite asbestos, the asbestos lawyer will work for you in a no fee, no win contingency arrangement.  This generally works in your favor but be careful of potential scams and have a written fee arrangement to prevent exploitation or confusion.

What laws exist to protect those sickened by asbestos?

There is no total ban on the use of asbestos in the US.  There are however, regulations that force entities to inform employees of potential dangers and levels of exposure that are considered unacceptable.  The Occupation Safety and Health Administration, in addition to studying the health of those that work with asbestos, also set “safe” but stringent limits for worker asbestos exposure.  This includes not exceeding a threshold of exposure in a certain period of time and giving adequate training on abatement procedure and information on how to wash off residue that may sicken them.  All workers that work with Crocidolite asbestos will be studied for no less than 30 years for potential complications stemming from their exposure.

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