Types of Asbestos

All six types of asbestos naturally form bundles of thin and durable fibres. They are resistant to chemical, heat, fire and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent wear and tensile strength. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of products like flooring tiles, insulation, paints, and heat-resistant materials.

Chrysotile

Before it was banned in the year 1980, Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most frequently used form of the mineral. It was due to its being affordable, durable, and fireproof. However, it was also found to be extremely harmful and associated with mesothelioma as well as other illnesses. While some countries continue to use asbestos, a worldwide ban is now required.

Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile. carcinogenic, and no amount of exposure can be considered safe. However despite this, the companies who mine and sell chrysotile assert that the asbestos they make is more secure than older varieties of the mineral, because it is tightly packed and non-friable.

While this form of asbestos is less dangerous than amphibole asbestos it is still a risk to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular type of asbestos mined, and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cancer cases across the world. Chrysotile is a golden or brown yellow fibrous mineral that looks like threads and feels soft to the touch. When examined with electron microscopy the fibers appear to be tubes. They are actually a combination of structural layers of minerals that have been that are rolled into a spiral shape.

Chrysotile is known to trigger various illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has also been linked to gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular diseases. Those who work with chrysotile, are particularly susceptible to developing these ailments because they have prolonged contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile was previously widely used in construction and automobile repair. It is found in old homes and vehicles.

Amosite

Asbest is made up of six different kinds of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and physical properties. However, all six are linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the serpentine and amphibole minerals chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular asbestos type in the United States. It is still used in the walls, roofs and floors of a variety of commercial and residential properties. It is also used in automotive brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles as well as cement sheets and pipe insulation.

All types of asbestos can be dangerous when inhaled. Any exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other pleural diseases. Exposure to asbestos is most often caused by breathing, but can also be caused through handling or working with fibres. Exposure to asbestos is especially hazardous when materials are fragile. This means that they are prone to break down easily and then become airborne dust particles.

Friability is related to the size of the fibres as well as their length. Thicker and longer fibres will be more likely to penetrate deep into the lungs, while thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do so.

The exposure to asbestos happens most often when workers remove or handle it. This is because asbestos is a very fine substance and can be released into the air as dust after it is 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 the fibres break apart when vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.

Crocidolite

Unlike the serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) the amphibole asbestos is composed of long, straight chain-like fibres that are brittle and more dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) as well as amosite (brown asbestos) and tremolite (red asbestos) are the most common amphibole asbestos. However, it can it is also found in other forms like anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos are commonly found in natural deposits as well as chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that these other asbestos attorney minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite and could be mixed with chrysotile asbestos within the deposit.

Asbestos is present in many products, including asbestos cement pipes sheets, friction materials used in coatings, car brakes and gaskets. The fibres are weaved into paper, fabric, thread, mastics, or bound with Portland Cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine their best application. The shorter fibres are usually used in textiles, electrical insulation and filters, whereas the longer fibres are utilized in asbestos cement sheets, pipes, flooring and sheets.

A variety of studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and cancer of the stomach. The results of these studies vary, however the conclusions are influenced due to the lack of research on this subject. Generally speaking, the risk of stomach cancer is believed to increase with increasing exposure to asbestos. However, the impact is reduced when the time from the first exposure is taken into account.

Other forms of asbestos can be implicated in the development of mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the lining of the abdomen and chest). It has been reported that children who are exposed to asbestos are more at risk for developing mesothelioma than adults. The reason for this is not known.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one the most common cancers caused by asbestos. It is caused by exposure to asbestos over a long time and is more dangerous than any other asbestos-related disease. It affects the lungs, and sometimes other organs such as the heart, stomach and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung.

Asbestos is comprised of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is found in a number of different products and was once extensively used in construction, but is now banned due to its ill effects.

The majority of people are not affected by the low levels of asbestos in the air. People who do get sick are usually exposed to asbestos on a regular basis in a specific job, and over a long period of time. The most frequent jobs that require asbestos include mining, shipbuilding and construction. In recent years, regulations from the government have helped to limit the use of asbestos and it is now present in fewer structures. Some household products from the past like crayons, toys for children and even crayons, still contain asbestos.

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. They can cause lung diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and other illnesses. Chrysotile Asbestos lawyer is the most commonly recognized form of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed micro-sized fibres are released into the air, and they can be inhaled. Inhaling these fibres, they may become trapped deep inside the lung. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This could cause lung cancer mesothelioma, mesothelioma or other illnesses that can take years to develop. Smoking and having a family history of asbestos-related diseases are also factors that increase your chance of developing.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used in the manufacture of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. These fibers can be breathed in, or swallowed and cause serious health problems like mesothelioma.

The mesothelium is the lining which protects organs. Mesothelioma is most often affecting the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In some instances it may also manifest in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos victims are most likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos at work. However, relatives of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. It is difficult to recognize mesothelioma due to the fact that the symptoms are not specific and are often similar to symptoms of other diseases. Because of this, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and asbestos lawyer victims may not receive the treatment they need.

A mesothelioma diagnosis starts with visiting your doctor. Your doctor will conduct an entire medical history and inquire about your previous asbestos exposure. This will help them determine if you're a higher risk for the disease.

Once the mesothelioma diagnosis is established, your doctor will determine which type of mesothelioma that you have. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most frequent type of the disease, accounts to around 80 percent of mesothelioma cases each year. Other types include peritoneal as well as rare biphasic mesothelioma, which has epithelioid, as well as sarcomatoid cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma will help your doctor decide on the most appropriate treatment options for you. Based on the location you live in and the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from, treatment may improve your chances of surviving.