Chrysotile

About Chrysotile Asbestos

Chrysotile, commonly called white asbestos, belongs to the serpentine family of asbestos minerals. Curly, flexible fibers characterize this mineral.

Despite industry claims of lower danger, chrysotile causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. No safe exposure level exists.

Primary Uses

Chrysotile was used in various industrial and commercial applications:

• Building materials
• Brake linings
• Roof shingles
• Cement products
• Textiles

Common Products Containing Chrysotile

Products that historically contained Chrysotile include:

Learn more about specific asbestos-containing products:

Health Risks

Exposure to Chrysotile asbestos can cause four main diseases. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lung, heart, or abdominal lining with a median survival of 12 to 21 months after diagnosis. Asbestos-related lung cancer risk climbs with exposure and multiplies sharply for people who also smoked. Asbestosis is a progressive scarring of lung tissue that makes breathing steadily harder. Pleural disease produces thickening, calcified plaques, and fluid collections in the lining around the lungs.

Symptoms may not appear until 20-50 years after initial exposure, making early detection challenging.

Where Chrysotile Was Found

Chrysotile was primarily sourced from:

• Canada
• Russia
• China
• Brazil
• Zimbabwe

Peak usage in the United States occurred during the 1930s-1980s.

Current Regulatory Status

Status: Partially banned in U.S. (2024 EPA rule phases out remaining uses)

Despite regulations, legacy asbestos remains in millions of buildings constructed before 1980. Renovation, demolition, and maintenance activities continue to expose workers and building occupants to asbestos fibers.

Other Asbestos Types