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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. According to studies, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health problems.
It is difficult to tell if something includes asbestos by looking at it, and you won't be able to smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be detected when materials containing it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was employed in a variety of industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to increase in the 1960's. However, traces of it remain in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there is no danger to those handling it. Inhaling airborne fibers has been found to be strongly linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed both for the intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a facility that used a large proportion of chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates at this facility.
Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough product is produced which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also very easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and taken away.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a group of fibrous silicate minerals that naturally occur in certain kinds of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibres that vary in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed vermiculite or talc that was contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era and also from geographical location.
Most of the asbestos exposures at work were caused by inhalation, however some workers were also exposed by skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment from the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of illness among people exposed to it in their occupation.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs which can cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways, too like contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe in. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other form of asbestos.
The six main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most frequently used types of asbestos. They comprise 95% of the commercial asbestos currently used. The other four have not been as widely used however, they could be found in older buildings. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile. However, they could be a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals, or when mined close to other mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all kinds of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos should be the highest priority as it is the safest option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma condition, then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from one another with octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks. wichita falls asbestos lawyer are typically dark and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for an array of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition.
Amphibole asbestos consists of chrysotile, and the five types of asbestos: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. While the most frequently used asbestos type is chrysotile each type has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that are easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.