The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

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

You cannot tell if something is asbestos-containing by looking at it and you won't be able to smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be detected when the material containing it is broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of asbestos production. It was used by many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Thankfully, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use in the present.

Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been found that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those handling it. Inhaling airborne fibers has been linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.

One study that studied the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. It was found that, for 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure, there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.

When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risk. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.

Research has proven that amphibole asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole forms have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it forms a strong, flexible building product that can withstand the most extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.

Amosite

asbestos claim refers to a group of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine) and the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

asbestos compensation minerals consist of thin, long fibres that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also 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 cosmetics, face powder and other.

The heaviest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century in the period when it was employed in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, from era to, and geographical location.

Most asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were due to inhalation. However, some workers were also exposed by skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. They can be found in mountains, sandstones, and asbestos cliffs of many countries.

Asbestos is able to enter the environment in a variety ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly due to natural weathering, but has also been caused by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness in people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lung, causing serious health problems. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to fibers can occur in a variety of ways, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite, a asbestos' blue form, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, making them easier to breathe in. They can also be lodged deeper inside lung tissues. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.

The six primary types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos and make up 95% of commercial asbestos currently used. The other four forms haven't been as extensively used but they can be found in older buildings. They are less harmful than chrysotile and amosite, but they could pose a threat when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.

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

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, but the risk is dependent on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved and the duration of their exposure and the manner in the way it is inhaled or ingested. IARC has declared that the best option for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases, they should seek guidance from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites in strips.

Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding cleavage pattern. Their chemistry allows for a variety of compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole class include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. While the most commonly used asbestos type is chrysotile each type has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers which are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.