Why Nobody Cares About Asbestos Attorney
The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You can't tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it and you cannot taste or smell it. It is only found when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was used by many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers were exposed to this harmful material, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became an issue the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. It is still present in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been proven that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those handling it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared among a factory which used largely chlorosotile to make friction materials and national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.
Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. sparks asbestos law firm makes them much more prone to causing health consequences than longer fibres.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used in various parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely to cause diseases. These amphibole types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix together, a strong product is produced that can withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a group of silicate fibrous minerals that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. They can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used as consumer goods, such as baby powder cosmetics and face powder.
The largest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of 20th century in the period when it was employed in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied according to industry, time and geographic location.
Exposure to asbestos at work is mostly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed through skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is now only found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
There is emerging evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that don't form the tightly knit fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres can be found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of a variety of countries.
Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the main cause of disease among those exposed to asbestos during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in a variety of ways, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are more pronounced when crocidolite, a asbestos' blue form, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile which makes them more difficult to inhale. They also can get deeper within lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as popularly used however they can be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than chrysotile and amosite, but they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.
Several studies have found an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However the evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, while others report an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for workers in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on how much exposure, what type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types should be the top priority, as this is the best option for people. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a disease such as mesothelioma or other respiratory diseases, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They are a monoclinic system of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also have a similar the cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for the use of a variety of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
The five asbestos types in the amphibole class include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile. Each variety has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers that can be easily breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish color and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze due to their an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.