How To Become A Prosperous Asbestos Lawyer If You're Not Business-Savvy
Types of Asbestos
All six types of asbestos occur naturally as bundles of durable and thin fibres. They are resistant to heat, chemicals, fire and electrical conductivity. They have a high tensile strength and wear strength. Asbestos is a component in many products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also called white asbestos) was the most frequently used form of the mineral. It was this because it was affordable, durable and fireproof. However, it was also found to be extremely harmful and linked to mesothelioma and other diseases. Certain countries still make use of asbestos, but a global ban is needed.
Health professionals continue to warn people that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile. carcinogenic, and that any amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered safe. Companies who mine and sell asbestos claim that chrysotile is safer than older forms of the mineral because it is tightly packed and non-friable.
While this form of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole asbestos, it is still extremely dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most frequently mined asbestos and the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases around the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that feels soft and looks like threads is a fibrous rock. Under an electron microscope, the fibres look more like tubes and are made up of structural layers of the mineral that have been rolled in spiral form.
Chrysotile is known to trigger many illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has also been linked with gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular diseases. Those who work with chrysotile, are particularly susceptible to developing these illnesses because they are exposed to the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile used to be extensively used in auto and construction repair. It is found in older homes and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six types of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been used in asbestos. Each mineral has its particular chemical composition and characteristics however, all six are linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.
Chrysotile is by far the most widely used asbestos type in the United States. Many homes and businesses still have it in their walls, roofs and floors. It is also used in brake linings, gaskets, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles as well as cement sheets and pipe insulation.
All types of asbestos are harmful if inhaled. Exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Inhalation is by far the most common way to be exposed to asbestos. However, it can also occur while working with or handling the asbestos fibres. The risk of exposure is particularly high when the asbestos is friable, which means they crumble easily and may be inhaled as dust particles.
Friability is dependent on the thickness of the fibres and their length. Longer and thicker fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, whereas thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do so.
The exposure to asbestos happens most often when workers are handling or removing it. Asbestos is a fine, crystal-like material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed it may release tiny fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping motion can cause the fibres to break up when vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
In contrast to the serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) amphibole asbestos has long straight chain-like fibers that are brittle and more dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos are usually found in natural deposits, along with the chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite deposits, and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos found in the deposits.
Asbestos is used in a range of products including asbestos cement sheets and pipes as well as friction materials for car brakes, gaskets, and coatings. The fibres are made into paper, fabric thread, mastics or bonded with Portland Cement, resins, or plastics. The size and length of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres are commonly used in textiles, electrical insulation and filters. On the other hand, the longer fibres are employed in asbestos cement sheets, pipes, flooring and sheets.
Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The results of these studies vary, however the conclusions are limited by the limited literature on this topic. In general the risk of stomach cancer is likely to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effect is diminished when consideration of latency from the first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos are implicated in the development mesothelioma (a malignant cancer that affects the abdomen's lining as well as the chest). It has been observed that children who are exposed to asbestos are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reason isn't clear.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most well-known asbestos-related disease. It can be caused by exposure to long-term asbestos and is typically more serious than other types of asbestos disease. It affects the lungs and sometimes other organs like the stomach, the heart, and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma which is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is one of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It can be found in many different products and was widely 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. People who do develop illness are usually exposed to asbestos on a regular basis during a specific job and for a prolonged period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be in jobs like shipbuilding, mining, construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations have helped limit the use of asbestos and it is now used in fewer buildings. Some household products from the past like crayons and toys for children, still contain asbestos.
All forms of asbestos could cause lung diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis among other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised type of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed they release microscopic fibres which become airborne and are inhaled. When inhaled, the fibres may become trapped deep inside the lung. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer or other conditions that take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family background of asbestos-related diseases are two factors that increase your risk.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used for the production of insulation or in the construction of homes, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. These fibers may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health issues such as mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is the lining which covers organs. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In certain cases, it can also develop in the lining of the heart (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).
Asbestos sufferers are more likely to develop mesothelioma as result of their exposure at work. Mesothelioma may also affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma may be difficult to recognize because symptoms aren't specific and frequently resemble symptoms of more common diseases. Because of this, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed, and sufferers may not receive the treatment they require.
milpitas asbestos lawyer to your doctor is the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will inquire about your medical background and any asbestos exposure. This will help them determine if the risk of developing the disease is greater.
Once the mesothelioma-related diagnosis is confirmed by your doctor, they will determine the type of mesothelioma that you have. Pleural mesothelioma, the most frequent type of the disease, accounts for approximately 80% of mesothelioma-related diagnoses each year. The other two types are peritoneal and a rare biphasic type of mesothelioma, which contains epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cells. Your doctor will decide the best course of action for you depending on the type of mesothelioma. Treatment can increase your odds of survival based on the nature and the location of mesothelioma.