The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it contains asbestos. Neither can you taste or smell it. It is only found when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up for 95% of the asbestos produced. It was employed in a variety of industries like construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Thankfully, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to increase in the 1960's. However, trace amounts are still present in many of the products we use today.
Chrysotile can be used safely when a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been discovered that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those working with the substance. The inhalation of airborne particles has been linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as in the time of exposure.
One study that looked into a facility that used nearly exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. The study found that, after 40 years of manufacturing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates at this facility.
Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world particularly in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that amphibole asbestos like amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. Amphibole types like these are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough product is produced that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a group of silicate mineral fibrous that are found naturally in specific kinds of rock formations. It is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), the tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibers that vary 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 a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.
Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied according to the type of industry, the time period and geographic location.
Asbestos exposure at work is mostly caused by inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes and clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety 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) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by humans, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos in their work.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed to harmful fibres that can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite, a blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe. They also can get deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other form of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most well-known asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as extensively used however they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile, but they can still pose a threat when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other naturally occurring 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 isn't unanimous. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% C.I. 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma or other health issues, although the risks are different based on how much exposure people are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the way in which it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types is the most important thing to do because this is the most secure option for those who are exposed. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a condition such as mesothelioma or other respiratory conditions, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark and hard. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also have a similar cleavage. Their chemistry allows for a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to determine their composition.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile each type has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It is made up of sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. It was previously used in products like cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, kentucky asbestos lawyer can only give approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.