Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of amorphous asbestos exist in nature as bundles of thin, durable fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire chemicals, electrical conductivity and chemical vapors. They have a high tensile strength and wear strength. Asbestos is a component in many products such as floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.

Chrysotile

Before it was banned in 1980, Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most widely used form of the mineral. This was due to the fact that it was affordable, durable and fireproof. It was discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to mesothelioma and other cancers. While some countries continue to use asbestos, a worldwide ban is now required.

Health professionals continue to warn that all kinds of asbestos, including chrysotile are carcinogenic and no amount of exposure is safe. However, despite this, companies that mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they make is safer than earlier types of the mineral since it is tightly packed and not flammable.

While this form of asbestos is less harmful than amphibole asbestos but it is nevertheless a danger to handle. Chrysotile, the most widely mined asbestos and is the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cancer cases in the world. Chrysotile is a golden or brown yellow fibrous mineral which appears like threads and feels soft to the touch. Under an electron microscopy, the fibres appear more like tubes. They are actually a mixture of structural layers of minerals that have been rolled into spiral form.

Chrysotile is known to cause numerous illnesses, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. People who work with chrysotile, are particularly at risk for developing these diseases since they are frequently in contact with the mineral. Asbestos was once widely used in auto and construction repair. It could be found in older vehicles and homes.

Amosite

There are six types of naturally occurring silicate fibrous minerals that have been used in asbestos. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties however, all six are associated with increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite. They also include amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known form of asbestos in the United States. Many businesses and homes have it on their walls, roofs, and floors. It was also used in automobile brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles, cement sheets, and pipe insulation.

Inhaling asbestos in any form is a risk. The exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural diseases and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is most often caused by inhalation, however, it can also be caused through handling or working with fibres. Exposure to asbestos is particularly dangerous 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 a function length and the thickness of the fibers. The longer and longer fibres are more likely to penetrate deep into the lungs, whereas shorter and asbestos case thinner fibres are less likely to do so.

The exposure to asbestos lawsuit happens most often when workers work with or remove it. This is because asbestos is a very fine material and may be released into the air as dust when it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept away or vacuumed, it could release small fibres in the air. This is because sweeping can cause fibres to break up 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 hazardous to inhale. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most popular forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite and actinolite. These asbestos types are often found in natural deposits alongside chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are contaminants in crocidolite deposits, and could be mixed with chrysotile asbestos present in the deposit.

Asbestos is utilized in a variety of products including asbestos cement pipe and sheets and friction materials for automobile brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres are woven into paper, fabric thread, mastics, or bonded with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine the most suitable application. The shorter fibres can be utilized for electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while the longer ones are used for asbestos cement pipes, sheets and flooring.

Numerous studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and cancer of the stomach. The results of these studies vary however, and the conclusions are limited by the limited literature on this subject. Generally speaking, the risk of cancer of the stomach appears to increase as a result of increasing exposure to asbestos. However, the effect is reduced when the time from the first exposure is taken into account.

Other types of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen and chest). Children who are exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reasons for this are not clear.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one the most frequently-assuaged ailments caused by asbestos. It can be caused by exposure to long-term asbestos and is more serious than other types of asbestos lawyer-related disease. It can affect the lungs and sometimes other organs, such as the stomach or heart. It can also cause mesothelioma - an uncommon cancer that affects the lung lining.

Asbestos consists of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It can be found in a number of different products. It was previously extensively used in construction but has now been banned due to its harmful effects.

Most people do not get sick from the low levels of asbestos in the air. However, those that do become ill are usually exposed regularly to asbestos case (try what she says) during a specific job and often for a prolonged time. The heaviest exposures tend to be those in positions like shipbuilding, mining construction, and insulation. In recent years, regulations from the government have helped reduce the use of asbestos and it is now present in fewer structures. However, it is still present in older household products, such as crayons and toys for children.

All forms of asbestos can cause lung ailments such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known kind of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air and may be inhaled. The fibres can become trapped in the lungs after inhalation. The asbestos fibres may cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This could cause lung cancer mesothelioma and other illnesses that can take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking cigarettes and having an ancestor with the condition.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used to make insulation, or for the construction and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers are later swallowed or inhaled, leading to serious health problems like mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of organs known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is most often affecting the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In certain cases it can also be found in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma due to exposure at work. Mesothelioma may also affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult identify because the symptoms aren't always specific and can mimic symptoms of more common diseases. Because of this, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed, and victims may not receive the treatment they need.

A visit to your doctor is the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. The doctor will inquire about your medical background and any asbestos exposure. This will enable them to determine if your likelihood of developing the disease is greater.

Your doctor will determine which type of mesothelioma you suffer from once mesothelioma is identified. Pleural mesothelioma, the most prevalent form of this disease and accounts for about 88% of all mesothelioma-related diagnoses every year. The other two types are peritoneal and a rare biphasic version of mesothelioma, which contains both sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells. The type of mesothelioma that you are diagnosed with will help your doctor decide on the most appropriate treatment options for you. Treatment can improve your odds of survival based on the nature and the location of your mesothelioma.