Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral. There are six kinds, all of which contain long and thin threads of fibrous crystals, each fibre being made up of many minute “fibers”. These fibres of asbestos vary in length, which depends on the kind of asbestos used, although some varieties do not have any fibres at all and are just called asbestos. When these fibres get caught in the human body, through the lungs, or elsewhere, they become trapped and form what we know as asbestos fibers.
As you can imagine, this can cause problems, because when someone breathes them in, they become stuck inside their lung tissue, and that tissue becomes damaged over time. The body has ways to get rid of these fibres, but in most cases, they get trapped in the lungs and cause inflammation and scarring. This scarring and inflammation can turn into cancer, and it is these scarring fibres that give us the symptoms of asbestos-related lung disease: asbestosis, pleural effusions, and mesothelioma. So, what are the differences between asbestos and crocodile skin? They are similar enough that crocidolite and asbestos are often confused, but neither one is actually considered hazardous, according to the International Agency For Research On Cancer.
Asbestos is not a human carcinogen, according to the US National Toxicological Society. This society also says that asbestos is not a known human carcinogen, but it is still considered to be an environmental pollutant by the EPA. What this means is that in spite of this fact, people should still be cautious around asbestos products and report any health problems they may have to a designated health administration, such as your local department of health. They will take the appropriate action.