Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of amorphous asbestos exist in nature as bundles of thin, durable fibres. They are resistant against flames, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent tensile strength and wear. Asbestos is a component in many products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabric.

Chrysotile

Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos was the most popular type of mineral used in a myriad of products prior to its ban in the 1980s. It was this because it was affordable, durable, and fireproof. However, it was found to be extremely risky and linked to mesothelioma and other diseases. While some countries still use asbestos, a worldwide ban is now required.

Health professionals continue to warn that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and no amount of exposure is safe. However despite this, the companies who extract and sell chrysotile have claimed that the asbestos they make is safer than earlier types of the mineral since it is tightly packed and unfriable.

While this form of asbestos is less harmful than amphibole asbestos but it is still dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most commonly mined asbestos and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases worldwide. Chrysotile which is a brownish golden mineral that is soft and appears like threads is a fibrous rock. Under an electron microscope, the fibers appear more like tubes and are composed of structural layers of the mineral rolled in spiral form.

Chrysotile is known to trigger numerous illnesses, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. People who work with chrysotile are especially susceptible to developing these diseases since they are frequently in contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile was previously widely employed in the construction industry and auto repair. It can be found in older homes and vehicles.

Amosite

There are six kinds of naturally occurring silicate fibrous minerals that have been used to make asbestos. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties. However, all six are linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. These include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile and Crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite, tremolite anthophyllite and tremolite.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most common form of asbestos in the United States. Numerous homes and businesses have it on their walls, roofs, and floors. It is also used in automotive brake gaskets, linings, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile are shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.

All forms of asbestos pose dangers if inhaled. Any exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma or lung cancer as well as other lung diseases. Exposure to asbestos is most often caused by inhalation, but can also be caused by handling or working with asbestos fibres. The risk of exposure is particularly high if the materials are friable which means they can break easily and are able to be blown into the air as dust particles.

Friability is determined by the thickness of the fibres and their length. The longer and more dense fibers are more likely than thinner and shorter ones to penetrate into the lungs.

The most popular method to expose workers to asbestos is by working with or removing it. Asbestos is a very fine, crystallized substance that releases dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed it can release tiny fibres into the air. This is due to the fact that sweeping can cause fibres to break when vacuuming them, whereas sweeping causes them to stick to other surfaces.

Crocidolite

Amphibole asbestos, unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long, straight fibres that are tough and brittle. They are also more harmful to breathe in. Crocidolite, amosite and tremolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite and actinolite. These kinds of asbestos can be found in natural deposits containing Chrysotile. It is believed that the other port lavaca asbestos lawsuit minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos found in the deposit.

Asbestos can be found in a variety of products, including asbestos cement pipe sheets, friction materials used in coatings, brakes for cars, and gaskets. The fibres can be woven into fabrics, paper, mastics, thread or connected with Portland cement resins or plastics. The length and the size of the fibres will determine the most suitable application. The shorter fibres are typically used in textiles, electrical insulation and filters. On the other hand, the longer fibres are employed in Wyandotte asbestos attorney cement sheets, pipes, flooring and sheets.

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The results of these studies vary, however, and the conclusions are limited by the relatively sparse literature on this subject. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase when the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the impact is diminished when the length of time since first exposure is considered.

Other forms of asbestos are implicated in the development of mesothelioma (a malignant cancer that affects the abdominal lining and chest). It has been observed that children who are exposed to asbestos are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma, compared to adults. The reasons for this are not clear.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is among the most frequent ailments caused by asbestos. It is result of long-term exposure to asbestos and is typically more serious than other types of asbestos-related disease. It affects the lungs, and occasionally other organs like the stomach, the heart and bladder. It may also cause mesothelioma which is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs.

Asbestos is one of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It is found in a variety of different products. It was once widely used in construction, but has since been banned due to its harmful effects.

Most people do not get sick from the low levels of asbestos in the air. People who do get sick are often exposed to asbestos regularly at a particular job and for a long period of time. The most severe exposures tend to be in jobs such as shipbuilding, mining as well as construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations allowed for the reduction of the use and amount of asbestos in construction sites. Some household products from the past, such as crayons and toys for children still contain asbestos.

All types of asbestos are carcinogenic and can cause lung diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised kind of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopically, tiny fibres are released into the air, and they can be inhaled. These fibres can get trapped in the lungs when inhaled. The asbestos fibres can then cause scarring and inflammation of the lung. This could result in mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as other illnesses that may take years to develop. Other factors that increase the risk of developing an asbestos-related illness include smoking cigarettes and having an ancestral history of the disease.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used for insulation or for the construction and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibres are released into the air. The fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health conditions like mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that occurs in the lining of organs, called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma usually affects the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In some cases, it can also develop in the lining of the heart (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma because of exposure at work. However, the family members of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because symptoms aren't specific and can mimic symptoms of other diseases. As a result, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed, and patients might not receive the treatment they need.

A visit to your doctor is the first step to diagnosing mesothelioma. The doctor will take your medical history in detail and ask about your prior asbestos exposure. This will enable them to determine if your likelihood of developing the disease is greater.

When the mesothelioma diagnose is established, your doctor will determine the type of mesothelioma you have. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most commonly encountered form of the disease and accounts for about 88% of all mesothelioma diagnosis each year. Other types include peritoneal as well as rare biphasic mesothelioma that contains epithelioid, as well as sarcomatoid cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma can help your doctor Wyandotte asbestos Attorney determine the best treatment options for you. Treatment can improve your odds of survival, based on the type and the location of mesothelioma.