White asbestos

phyllosilicate mineral

White asbestos, also called chrysotile asbestos or serpentine asbestos, is one of the six types of asbestos. About 95% of asbestos found in buildings is white asbestos.[1] It is considered by experts to be less dangerous than the other types of asbestos, but it is still a major health hazard and exposure can cause cancer and asbestosis.

White asbestos
White asbestos under a microscope

Chrysotile should not be confused with chrysolite, which refers to peridot and several other non-asbestos-like minerals.

References

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  1. "Asbestos: An Overview of What it Is & Exposure Risks".