The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.

It is difficult to tell if something includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you can't taste or smell it. It is only found when materials containing asbestos are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was widely used in industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. It is still present in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been found that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those who handle it. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.

In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility.

Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than longer fibres.

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

Research has proven that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole varieties are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it forms a strong, flexible construction product that is able to withstand severe weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos refers to a set of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that are found naturally in specific kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that vary in length, ranging from very fine to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.

Asbestos was used extensively in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres were in the air, however some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era, and geographical location.

Most occupational exposures to asbestos were due to inhalation, but some workers were also exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly weaved like the fibrils that are found in amphibole and serpentine they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones from a variety of nations.

Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into water and soil. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by humans, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and mesothelioma settlement dispersal and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos during their occupation.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lungs which can cause serious health issues. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to fibers can occur in a variety of ways like contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This kind of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, making them easier to breathe in. They can also lodge deeper into lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are the most commonly used types of asbestos, and comprise 95 percent of all asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four types haven't been as widely utilized but they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.

Several studies have found an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause Mesothelioma Settlement as well as other health problems, but the risks are different based on the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved as well as the length of their exposure and mesothelioma settlement the way in which it is breathed in or consumed. The IARC has recommended that avoid all forms of asbestos is the most important thing to do because this is the most secure option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma condition, then you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure but some also have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphiboles can be found in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding cleavage pattern. However, their chemistry allows for an array of compositions. The different mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five asbestos types belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. It was previously used in products like cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have complex chemical structures and many substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.