Chrysotile Asbestos

**Semantic type:** Hazardous or Poisonous Substance

**Definition:** A naturally occurring, fibrous and silky, serpentine asbestos mineral with a color ranging from gray-white to yellow-green and is the most abundant and widely-used form of asbestos. Chrysotile is widely used in industry for various purposes. Chronic inhalation of its dust may cause asbestosis and increases the risk of digestive tract cancer, laryngeal cancer, mesothelioma and other lung cancers. Chrysotile asbestos is a known human carcinogen. (NCI05)

**Synonyms:** - CHRYSOTILE - Chrysotile - White Asbestos