The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You cannot tell by just looking at something if it contains asbestos. Also, you cannot smell or taste it. It can only be found in the event that asbestos-containing products are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised the majority of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries including construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem asbestos use has decreased significantly. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an undue amount of risk at the current safe exposure levels. Inhaling airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
One study that studied a facility that used nearly exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. It was discovered that, over the course of 40 years, processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibrils with a longer length.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable product is produced which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates that are found in various types of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres can be found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used as consumer goods, such as baby powder cosmetics and facial powder.
The most extensive use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of the 20th century in the period when it was employed in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era to era and even geographical location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed via skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine, but are instead loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the cliffs and mountains in a variety of countries.
Asbestos can enter the environment in a variety of ways, including through airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, but it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant reason for illness among those exposed to it in their occupation.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can occur in different ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile, however they could pose a threat when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all kinds of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all forms of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma, you should see your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals but some also have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons can be separated from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.
Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark-colored and are hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a similar cleavage pattern. However their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them.
The five asbestos types in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own unique properties. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers which are easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. The variety was used previously in cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. sparks asbestos attorney for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example can't distinguish between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.