Serpentine Asbestos (definition of)

Also known as chrysotile, serpentine is the source of common "white" asbestos, representing 95% of all commercial asbestos manufactured in the industrial world. It has been touted by what remains of the commercial asbestos industry in Canada as "safe" asbestos, since it is not known to cause mesothelioma (unlike the "hard" varieties of asbestos, namely crocidolite, amosite and tremolite). However, serpentine (so called because of its curled shape) is sometimes known to be contaminated with mesothelioma-causing tremolite; by itself, serpentine is the cause of asbestosis and pleural plaque.

White serpentine asbestos has been used in virtually every product from wall insulation and pipe lagging to automotive brake linings and fire suits. Recent legislation in the U.S. was introduced to ban new uses of asbestos in 2007 and phase out asbestos completely by 2016; however, there are still some 3500 asbestos-containing products on the market. In addition, the Canadian, Russian and Chinese asbestos industries continue to produce hundreds of thousands of tons every year, most of which is exported to developing countries.