BEAR engineers have testified on asbestos use in many cases. We maintain an expertise on the prevalence and impact of asbestos. The use of asbestos dropped precipitously in the 1980s. becaise the threat of building fires declined significantly due to the development and widespread use of fire sprinklers and, more significantly the detrimental health effects of asbestos were finally acknowledged.

In the U.S., three types of asbestos have been in use. Chrysotile, referred to as white asbestos, is the most common, representing ninety-five percent. Amosite, referred to as brown asbestos, representstwo percent and, crocidolite, referred to as blue asbestos, represents two percent.

There are six forms of commercial asbestos:

A) Amphibole Varieties:

• Amosite -- valuable, only mined in South Africa
• Crocidolite-- mined in South Africa, Australia and Bolivia
• Anthophyllite -- mined in Finland; source is nearly depleted.
• Tremolite-- rare
• Actinolite-- rare

B) Serpentine Variety

• Chrysotile-- the most common, generally fibrous, although nonfibrous varieties are known.

Workers exposed to common white asbestoshave shown little health effects. Blue asbestos has caused the most documented health effects; even non-occupational exposure has caused significant mortality.