The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
It is impossible to determine if a product is asbestos-containing by looking at it, and you cannot taste or smell it. It is only discovered when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos created. It was used in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to increase in the 1960's. However, trace amounts are still found in products that we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current controlled exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne particles has been found to be strongly linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory which used almost exclusively chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to be airborne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible material is created that can withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional and then safely eliminated.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a group of silicate mineral fibrous that are found naturally in specific kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be curled or straight. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.
Asbestos was used extensively in the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding as well as insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry industry, era to era, and geographical location.
The majority of asbestos exposures at work were because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
It is becoming apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibres can be found in the mountains, sandstones and cliffs from a variety of nations.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety of ways, such as in airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering, but has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of illness among people who are exposed to it during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too including contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most well-known forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are less hazardous than chrysotile or amosite but can still be dangerous when combined with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.
Several studies have found an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure, what type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option since this is the safest option for individuals. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic structure of crystals, however some exhibit 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 by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other with octahedral strips.
Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding cleavage pattern. However, their chemistry allows for a wide range of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be 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. Each variety of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyse due to their complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. new mexico asbestos lawsuit do not differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.