The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

You cannot tell if something includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you are unable to smell or taste it. It can only be found when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile comprised the majority of the asbestos production. It was employed in many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. However, if workers were exposed to the toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a concern the use of asbestos has been drastically reduced. It is still present in many products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that you have a complete safety and handling plan in place. It has been discovered that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers handling it. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.

One study that studied a factory that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.

Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to causing health consequences than longer fibres.

It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively utilized in many areas of the world including hospitals and schools.

Research has proven that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma as well as other west haverstraw asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it creates an extremely durable and flexible building product that can withstand harsh conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in certain types of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).

Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that range in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products, like baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.

Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace were in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to industry, time period, and geographic location.

The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was due to inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes and clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.

There is growing evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that are not the tightly knit fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of many countries.

Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent method by which people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can be experienced in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe in. They can also be lodged deeper in lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other types of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. The most popular asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as well-known, but can still be found in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have revealed an association between stomach cancer and derby asbestos attorney exposure. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for gurye.multiiq.com all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types should be the highest priority, as this is the most safe option for those who are exposed. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should see your physician or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure however, some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral site.

Amphiboles are present in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they may be difficult for some people to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also have a comparable the cleavage. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The various mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos: amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. While the most popular asbestos type is chrysotile; each has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that are easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite ranges from brown to yellowish in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance, cannot distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.