Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of amorphous asbestos exist in nature as a bundle of thin, durable fibres. They are resistant to fire, heat, chemicals and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent wear and tensile strength. Asbestos is a component in many products, including floor tiles and insulation paint, as well as fabric that is heat-resistant.

Chrysotile

Chrysotile, known as white asbestos, was the most common form of the mineral used in a myriad of products prior to its ban in the 1980s. It was this because it was affordable, durable and fireproof. However, it was also discovered to be extremely hazardous and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other illnesses. Some countries still employ asbestos, but a worldwide ban is needed.

Health care experts continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile, is carcinogenic and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. However, despite this, companies that mine and sell chrysotile say that the asbestos they create is more safe than older forms of the mineral because it is tightly packed and unfriable.

Although this kind of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole asbestos it is still a risk to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular kind of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that is soft and appears like threads is a fibrous minerals. Under an electron microscope, the fibres look more like tubes and are a result of structural layers of the mineral that are rolled in a spiral.

Chrysotile has been found to be the cause of many illnesses such as pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory problems. It has also been linked with gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular disease. People who work with chrysotile are particularly at risk for developing these ailments because they are in constant contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile was previously extensively used in construction and automobile repair. It could be found in older vehicles and homes.

Amosite

Asbest is made up of six different types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties, but all six are associated with increased risk of mesothelioma. These include amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile, Crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite, asbestos tremolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular asbestos type in the United States. Many businesses and homes have it in their walls, roofs, and floors. It is also used in automobile brake gaskets, linings for boilers, gaskets and seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile are shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.

Inhaling any form of asbestos is hazardous. Exposure to asbestos in any form can cause lung cancer, pleural diseases and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is commonly caused by inhalation, but it is also caused through the handling or work with asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos is particularly dangerous if the materials are friable that is to say they break down easily and are able to be blown into the air as dust particles.

Friability is a function length and the thickness of the fibers. Longer and thicker fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, while thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do this.

The exposure to asbestos is most often when workers work with or remove it. Asbestos is a fine, crystalline material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept it can release tiny fibres into the air. This is because sweeping can cause fibres to break when vacuuming them, whereas sweeping causes them to stick to surfaces.

Crocidolite

As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), the amphibole asbestos is composed of long, straight chain-like fibres which are more brittle and dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos) and tremolite (red asbestos) are the most well-known amphibole asbestos. However, they it is also found in different forms, such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These kinds of asbestos are commonly found in natural deposits as well as the chrysotile asbestos. These other asbestos minerals may be contaminants in crocidolite mixed with chrysotile in the deposit.

Asbestos is present in a variety of products, including asbestos cement pipes, sheets, friction materials used for coatings, brakes, and gaskets. The fibres can be weaved into paper, fabrics, mastics and thread or connected by Portland cement resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres are used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while the longer ones are utilized for asbestos cement pipes, sheets and flooring.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that asbestos settlement exposure is linked to and stomach cancer. The outcomes of these studies are varied, however, and the conclusions are influenced by the comparatively limited literature on this topic. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer is seen to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effects are diminished when consideration of latency prior to the first exposure is considered.

Other forms of asbestos have been implicated in the formation of mesothelioma, a malignant tumour that affects the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). It has been observed that children exposed to asbestos are more at chance of developing mesothelioma, compared to adults. The reasons for this are not understood.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is one the most frequent ailments caused by asbestos. It can be result of long-term exposure to asbestos and is typically more serious than other types of asbestos-related illnesses. It can affect the lungs and sometimes other organs like the stomach or heart. It can also cause mesothelioma - an uncommon cancer that affects lungs lining.

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

Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of airborne asbestos. However, those that do get sick are usually exposed on a regular basis to asbestos in a particular job, and often for a prolonged time. The most extensive exposures tends to be in jobs such as shipbuilding, mining as well as construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations helped to limit the use and amount of asbestos in construction sites. Certain household items from the past like crayons and toys for children, still contain asbestos.

All forms of asbestos can cause lung diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised form of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, they release microscopic fibres which are released into the air and can be inhaled. These fibres could get trapped in the lungs after inhalation. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can result in mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other conditions that take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related illness include smoking and having an ancestor with the condition.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used to make insulation or in the construction and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers are later inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health conditions such as mesothelioma.

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

Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos at work. However, the family members of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. It can be difficult to determine mesothelioma because the symptoms aren't distinct and can be similar to those of other diseases. As a result, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and patients might not receive the treatment they need.

A visit to your doctor is the first step to diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will collect an exhaustive medical history and ask about your past asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if your are at an increased risk of contracting disease.

When the mesothelioma diagnose is confirmed by your doctor, they will determine which type of mesothelioma that you have. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of this disease, accounts to around 80 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses each year. Other types include peritoneal and rare biphasic mesothelioma that contains epithelioid, as well as sarcomatoid cancer cells. Your doctor will decide the best course of action for you based on the type of mesothelioma. Treatment can increase your odds of survival, based on the nature and the location of mesothelioma.