The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer and a host of other health problems.

It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it contains asbestos. It is also impossible to taste or smell it. It is only discovered when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 95% of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma along with other irondale asbestos attorney-related diseases. Fortunately, the use this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to grow in the 1960's. However, trace amounts remain in common products that we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an danger to the people working with the substance. The inhalation of airborne particles is strongly linked to lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.

One study that studied an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials compared mortality rates in this facility with national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.

Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause ill-health effects than longer fibres.

When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products have been extensively used across the globe particularly in buildings like hospitals and schools.

Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. These amphibole types have been the most common source of mesothelioma, as well as other boonville asbestos lawsuit [vimeo.com]-related diseases. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it forms an extremely durable and flexible building product that can withstand extreme weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and then safely removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates found in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder and are used in consumer products like baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.

The heaviest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to, and geographical location.

Asbestos exposure at work is mostly due to inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined minerals and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that are not the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs and mountains from a variety of countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly as airborne particles, but it can also leach into water and soil. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of orland hills asbestos lawyer-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly a result of natural weathering. However, it has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary cause of disease among those exposed to asbestos in their occupation.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in different ways too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, high point Asbestos making them easier to breathe. They can also lodge deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos.

The six main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos, and comprise 95 percent of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be present in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a risk when mixed with other minerals, or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.

Many studies have discovered an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, and others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.

IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risks vary depending on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best option for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory illnesses it is recommended that they seek advice from their doctor or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic structure of crystals, however some exhibit 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 rings of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and colors. They also have a similar cut. However their chemistry permits many different compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own distinct properties. The most hazardous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.