The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and a host of other health issues.
You can't tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it and you can't smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when the substances that contain it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 90% of the asbestos made. It was employed in a variety of industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. Thankfully, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it can still be found in common products that we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current safe exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed in terms of intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory which used almost exclusively chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. It was discovered that, over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure There was no significant excess mortality in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues than fibres that are longer.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose any health risks. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely to cause disease. These amphibole types are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined 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. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals are also found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder which are widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.
The largest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and 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 rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied by industry, time period and geographic location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually due to inhalation. However, toledo asbestos attorney have been exposed through contact with skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is now only found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined ore and deterioration of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't woven like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.
Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into water and soil. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of disease among those who are exposed to it during their occupation.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in a variety of ways like contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are more easy to breathe in and can get deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other types of asbestos.
The main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile. However, they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos and others have reported 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 kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although the risks vary according to the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved and the duration of their exposure and the method by which it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has recommended that avoid all forms of asbestos should be the highest priority, as this is the most secure option for individuals. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, but certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons, which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral site.
Amphibole minerals are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.
The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It is made up of sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This variety was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. The most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.