Actinolite Asbestos
Actinolite asbestos is a form of amphibole asbestos. Like other types of amphibole asbestos, it consists of long, sharp fibers and its make up is very similar to that of another amphibole variety - tremolite asbestos. Varying in color from white or gray to dark brown, it is commonly found in metamorphic rocks. Actinolite asbestos is fairly rare and was not often used in asbestos-containing products but, nonetheless, its use has been regulated since the late 1970s.
As a naturally-occurring mineral, it isn’t unusual for actinolite to be discovered in rocks or soil. In 2002, about 30,000 cubic yards of rock that was taken from a university property and dumped in the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey was found to contain about 10 percent actinolite. This presented an obvious danger to those in the area. Furthermore, at the site of the university – Stevens Institute – excavators who were drilling and blasting did so without regard for those in the area, even though the presence of asbestos may have been detected.
As with all forms of asbestos, actinolite is a known carcinogen that can cause mesothelioma cancer. Its tiny, sharp fibers, when airborne, are easy to inhale. Because it is of the amphibole family, actinolite fibers are particularly difficult to expel after they are absorbed by the body and can cause scarring, irritation, and – eventually – asbestos-related diseases. It is important to note, however, that there are non-fibrous forms of actinolite that do not pose any health problems such as mesothelioma.
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