Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

95% of all asbestos in use is of the chrysotile variety, which is Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 and doesn’t contain any iron [0]. It’s linked with human health hazards but is less dangerous than the crocidolite variant.

Crocidolite does contain iron (Na2FeIII2FeII3Si8O22(OH)2 per [1]) but it’s not the common type of asbestos and is known as blue asbestos and is found primarily in South Africa, Australia, and Bolivia.

I think given how dangerous asbestos is, it can’t statistically be reasonable to assume that it’s cancerous properties arise from something only found in a minority of the asbestos we use.

[0]: https://www.britannica.com/science/asbestos-mineral

[1]: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocidolite

The second link is in French.



Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: