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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is impossible to determine if a product has asbestos just by looking at it and you can't smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when the materials that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99percent of the asbestos made. It was used in many industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed to this harmful substance, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a major concern the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be used safely with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been determined that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers who handle the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for the intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.
A study that looked at a factory that used almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture 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 in this factory.
Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They are able to enter the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than fibrils with a longer length.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to be airborne and cause health hazards. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has revealed that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos like amosite and crocidolite. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed and cured, a tough, flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used as consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.
The greatest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of the 20th century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. cleveland asbestos law firm varied according to the type of industry, the time period and geographical location.
Most of the asbestos exposures at work were because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and deterioration of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.
It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not have the tight knit fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities such as milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary cause of disease among those exposed to it in their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in different ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The risks of exposure are more pronounced when crocidolite (the asbestos' blue form is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile and therefore easier to inhale. They also can get deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are the most frequently used types of asbestos and account for 95% of all asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four types haven't been as widely utilized, but they may still be found in older buildings. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a danger when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence is not conclusive. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other health issues, however the risk is dependent on how much exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used and the duration of their exposure and the way in which it is inhaled or ingested. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, then you should see your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that may form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic structure of crystals, but 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 in a ring of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons may be separated by octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also have a comparable cut. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety has its own distinct characteristics. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of iron and magnesium. This variety was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have complex chemical structures and many substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.