The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

You cannot tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it and you are unable to smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be detected when the materials that contain it are broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile made up for 99percent of the asbestos that was produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem asbestos use has declined significantly. However, trace amounts can still be found in the products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been discovered that at the present exposure levels, there is no danger to those who handle the substance. Inhaling airborne fibers has been found to be strongly linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

One study that examined an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national mortality rates. It was found that, for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure there was no signifi cant additional mortality in this factory.

Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely used in many parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.

Research has shown that amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole varieties are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough and flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.

Amosite

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

Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They can be found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products like baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.

The largest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied according to industry, time period, and geographic location.

The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was due to inhalation, but certain workers were exposed through contact with skin or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight interwoven fibrils that are found in the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries.

Asbestos is able to enter the environment in many ways, including as airborne particles. It can also be absorbed into soil or water. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is typically a result of natural weathering, but has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common reason for asbestos illness among those exposed to asbestos at work.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can then enter the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways, too, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The dangers of exposure are greater when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe in. They can also be lodged deeper into lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used types of asbestos and account for 95% of asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four have not been as widely used however they can be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they could pose a threat when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.

A number of studies have demonstrated an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for workers in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other health issues, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure that individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos case involved, the duration of their exposure and the way in the way that it is breathed in 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 safe option for people. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma, asbestos you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that may form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal system however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.

Amphibole minerals are found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and tough. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they can be difficult for some people to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. However, their chemistry allows for a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition.

Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five types of asbestos: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each kind of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques also cannot differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.