The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

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

You cannot tell if something is asbestos-containing by looking at it and you are unable to smell or taste it. It is only discovered when materials containing asbestos are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was employed in many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to grow in the 1960's. It is still found in many of the products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at current limit of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

One study that studied a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that, after 40 years of manufacturing low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality in this factory.

As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can pass through the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used across the globe particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.

Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. These amphibole types have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough product is produced that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos refers to a group of fibrous silicate minerals which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can be curled or straight. They are found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite, which have been widely used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder, and baby powder.

Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and Robbinsdale asbestos lawyer other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace were in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry industry, from era to and even geographical location.

The majority of greenville asbestos lawsuit exposures at work were because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the environment due to natural weathering of mined ores and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos like insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.

There is growing evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in serpentine and amphibole, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of a variety of countries.

Asbestos gets into the environment primarily as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of rogersville asbestos lawsuit-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it can also be caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos at work.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can occur in different ways, including contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The risks of exposure are greater when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, making them easier to breathe in. They also can get deeper inside lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most popular forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as well-known, but can still be found in older structures. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile, however they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.

IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, although the risks are different based on the amount of exposure that people are exposed to, the type of asbestos used as well as the length of their exposure, and the manner in the way it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

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

Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they could be difficult for some to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also have a similar Cleavage. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The various amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers which are easily breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish color and is composed mostly of iron and magnesium. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze due to their complex chemical structures and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special techniques. The most commonly used methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques, cannot distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.