6 Types of Asbestos

Monday, September 7, 2009

According to the U.S. Bureau of Mines there are about 100 mineral fibers that are "asbestos-like" fibers but only six of them are recognized and regulated by the US government. When mentioning asbestos, most of the time these 6 fibrous minerals are being referred to.

The six asbestos minerals recognized by the government are:

- tremolite asbestos

- actinolite asbestos,

- anthophyllite asbestos,

- chrysotile asbestos,

- amosite asbestos,

- crocidolite asbestos.

These six types are broadly classified into two groups: 1}Serpentine group consisting only of the chrysolite asbestos , 2} Amphibole group consisting of the remaining five different asbestos.

The difference between these two main groups is in their physical structure, the serpentine group is made up of minerals that have a layered form and curly fibers while the amphibole group contains minerals that have straight fibers with a chain-like structure.

1-Chrysotile asbestos

These are also known as white asbestos and they are made up of fine, silky, flexible white fibers. Chrysotile consists of minerals crystallized in a serpentine pattern that means it consists of crystals that are formed in sheets. It is the commonest type of asbestos accounting for approximately 95 percent of all asbestos commercially used in the United States. Due to the widespread use of this fiber, chrysotile accounts for the majority of asbestos-related health problems throughout the world.

2-Tremolite

This type of asbestos is found commonly in most metamorphic rocks. Its color ranges from a creamy white to dark green. Tremolite asbestos has been used for industrial purposes (though not as much as chrysotile) and has been identified as an ingredient in some household products, primarily talcum powder (which is also a known carcinogen). This form of asbestos is the main asbestos type found in the infamous vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana.

3-Actinolite asbestos

This is a relatively common mineral also found in metamorphic rocks. The colour of this type of asbestos is usually green, white, or gray and it is closely related to the tremolite mineral (actinolite contains a greater presence of iron over magnesium than tremolite). Actinolite does not have a strong history of commercial or industrial use, but it may be a contaminant in asbestos products. There are non-fibrous variants of actinolite that do not pose the same health threats associated with exposure to commercially exploited forms of asbestos.

4-Anthophyllite asbestos

This type of asbestos fibers is commonly identified by its brittle white fibers that are made of crystals and have a chain-like appearance. This type of asbestos is a common contaminant of talc. Although anthophyllite asbestos is not often used for industrial purposes, the fibers can occasionally be found among natural minerals that expand with the application of heat, such as vermiculite (which is commonly added to gardening soil).

5-Amosite asbestos

This type of asbestos is identified by its straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to brown in color. Amosite is also known as brown asbestos. In years past, amosite was often used as an insulating material and at one time it was the second-most commonly used type of asbestos. Throughout recent decades, commercial production of amosite has decreased and its use as an insulating material has been banned in many countries.

6-Crocidolite asbestos

These are commonly known as blue asbestos, and it is identified by its straight blue fibers. This form is believed to be the most dangerous form of asbestos. Crocidolite asbestos occurs naturally in locations such as Australia, South Africa, Bolivia, the former Soviet Union, and Canada.

An Honest Overview of Hair Removal for Genitals

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Genital hair removal for men involves the removal of hair from the penis and scrotum. For women, this refers to the removal of hair from the labia majora, labia minora and clitoral hood. The process of removing genital hair requires fastidious care because the genital area has an unlevel surface and thinner skin. Consequently, some of the normal hair removal methods you use on your pubic area may not be very appropriate for removing genital hair.

Genital Waxing

Waxing the genitals for women should not be a problem as waxing works relatively fine on the female genitalia. Men do not have it the easy way with waxing because not many waxing professionals are willing to wax scrotums. The problem with the scrotum is that the skin there is too loose. During the pulling off of the wax, the skin on the scrotum tends to stretch drastically, which creates a lot of pain. Hair on the scrotum is usually coarser, which makes it even harder to remove with waxing.

To further complicate things for men, most waxing professionals are women. While some men certainly do not mind a woman handling their sexual organs, others may not like the idea of having a man performing the job and some men want no one to touch them. If you prefer to wax your genitals yourself, you could purchase a home waxing kit. The main advantage of waxing is it removes the hair from the root, which lasts from 3 to 8 weeks before growing back. The hair growth process can be slowed down with special hair inhibitors to extend the effectiveness of waxing. The pain factor is what stops most people from waxing but if you think you can handle it, then go for it!

Laser Genital Hair Removal

This is probably the best permanent genital hair removal method out there but it can be very uneconomical. It can take between 4 to 8 laser hair removal sessions, each of which will cost $150 or more. Moreover, you will have to be willing to "bare all" in front of a stranger for quite some time.

How To Safely Remove Genital Hair

When it comes to removing genital hair, it is important that your chosen method is both gentle and safe enough for the delicate skin of your genitals. The most common way of removing hair on the genitals is by shaving with the current razors you possess because it is economical, convenient and quick. However, the use of normal razors may lead to nicks and bumps on the genitals causing pain, infections and itchiness. Razor blades and depilatory creams that were not designed for contact with the genitals are unsuitable for genital hair removal. If you are open about invest a bit more cash, you might want to consider getting safer alternatives like waxing, pubic shavers, laser genital hair removal and plucking with tweezers.

Genital Hair Removers

If you prefer to remove genital hair by shaving, the best way is an electric pubic shaver, which will rule out the risk of hurting yourself and the other drawbacks associated with shaving with a razor. These pubic shavers usually look like mini men's beard shavers with a rotary foil at the top. You will be required to trim the hair you want to shave till it is very short in length to enable these pubic shavers to work. Due to the fact that shaving does not remove hair from the root, you may experience ingrown hairs when they start to grow out if you do not apply special after-shave sprays to prevent the new hair from growing sideways. Lastly, shaving requires a lot of maintenance because hair grows back in just a few days.

Genital Hair Removal Depilatory Creams

Even though there are hair removal creams for the face, legs and pubic area, there aren't any hair removal creams (as far as I know) that claim to be mild enough for the genitalia.

Conclusion

I tried to cover the various means of removing genital hair as precisely and truthfully as I could. As you can see, there is no faultless solution to remove genital hair. You will need to conscientiously select which solution suits you best based on your budget, time constraints and personal preferences.