The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos compensation was used in thousands commercial products. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

It is impossible to tell just by looking at something whether it's made of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when the materials that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was widely used in industries like construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a concern, the use of asbestos has been drastically reduced. It is still found in many products we use today.

Chrysotile can be safely used in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been proven that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there isn't an danger to those handling it. The inhalation of airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.

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

In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They are able to enter the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues than fibres that are longer.

When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products have been used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined with cement, a tough and flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and safely disposed of.

Amosite

Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates that are found in a variety of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: serpentine, amphibole as well as tremolite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibres that range in length, ranging from very fine to broad and straight to curled. They are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals can also be found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite which are widely used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.

Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era era, and geographical location.

Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through contact with skin or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the air due to natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibres don't form the tightly weaved fibrils of amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of many countries.

Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety of ways, such as in airborne particles. It can also be released into water or soil. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos litigation-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by anthropogeny, such as through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs, causing serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle, making them easier to breathe. They can also lodge deeper in lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma cases than any other type of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, asbestos attorney amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite and actinolite. The most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile, but they can still pose a threat when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite and talc.

Numerous studies have revealed that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma or other health issues, but the risks are different based on the amount of exposure that people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved as well as the duration of exposure, and the manner in which it is breathed in or consumed. The IARC has recommended that avoid all forms of asbestos should be the highest priority, as this is the safest option for individuals. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma or other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.

Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they may be difficult for some people to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. However, their chemistry allows for the use of a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them.

The five types of Asbestos Attorney belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has its own distinct properties. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers which are easily breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.