It’s extremely difficult to identify asbestos just by looking at it. The typical size of their fibers is 0.1 to 10 μm in length (smaller than what the naked eye can detect). Asbestos is only visible if it is in groups or clumps; otherwise, the individual fibers are too small to see without a microscope, so samples need to be sent to a lab for testing. And while asbestos has some distinguishable features, an analysis of its appearance often requires the help of a microscope, which can show its color and shape.
Asbestos can be found in three variations: blue, brown, and white.
There are three types of asbestos that may be found in residential or commercial properties [link to asbestos commercial]: crocidolite (blue), amosite (brown), and chrysotile (white).
Crocidolite asbestos: Widely accepted as the most hazardous type of asbestos, it was commonly used to insulate steam engines and in spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, plastics, and cement products. Its fibers are extremely thin and can be identified by their blue color.
Amosite: The second most commonly-used asbestos, it poses a greatest risk of cancer. Brown in color, this form of asbestos was frequently used in cement sheets and pipe insulation, as well as insulation boards, ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation products.
Chrysotile: The most commonly used asbestos is found in roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors. This form of asbestos was also often used in brake linings, gaskets and boiler seals, and insulation for pipes, ducts, and appliances. Chrysotile is white in color with a layered structure and curly fibers.