The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You cannot tell by just looking at something whether it is made up of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detected when the materials that contain it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was employed in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a major concern the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. However, trace amounts are still found in the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be safely used with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is in place. It has been determined that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to the people working with the substance. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.
One study that studied an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials compared mortality rates in this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that chrysotile is less likely to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types have been the primary cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it creates a tough, flexible building product that is able to withstand severe weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional, and then eliminated.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a group of fibrous silicate minerals which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibres that range in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends called a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.
The most extensive asbestos use was during the first two-thirds of twentieth century where it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air, but certain workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era era, and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly caused by inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only present in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.
There is growing evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains from a variety of countries.
Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily due to natural weathering. However it is also caused by humans, such as by the 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 in 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 lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways as well including contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. This kind of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also get deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six primary types are chrysotile and amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos and account for 95% of commercial asbestos in use. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be present in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits like vermiculite and talc.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, the evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an 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 who work in mines and chrysotile mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all kinds of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, although the risks are different based on the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used and the duration of their exposure, and the manner in which it is breathed in or ingested. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos should be the top priority as it is the most secure option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma, then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however some may 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 which are connected in rings of six. denton asbestos attorney are separated by octahedral strips.
Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark-colored and are hard. Because of their similar hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also have a comparable the cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for an array of compositions. The different minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five asbestos types: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own unique properties. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to study because of their complex chemical structures and a variety of substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole mineral requires specialized methods. The most popular methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.