The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is difficult to tell by looking at a thing if it is made up of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be identified when materials containing it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos made. It was widely used in industries, including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. However, if north dakota asbestos lawyer were exposed for long periods to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to increase in the 1960's. It is still found in a variety of products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been discovered that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers who handle the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven both for the intensity (dose) as well as 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. It was found that for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure there was no significant extra mortality in the factory.
Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues than fibres that are longer.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. These amphibole types have been the primary cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough, flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and then safely removed.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a set of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that range in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying edges called a fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used in consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.
Asbestos was used extensively in the first two thirds of the 20th century to construct construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however certain workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time and geographic location.
The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed by skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.
It is becoming clear that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs and mountains from a variety of countries.
Asbestos is able to enter the environment in a variety ways, including as airborne particles. It can also be released into water or soil. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos during their occupation.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in different ways too like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle, making them easier to inhale. They can also get deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most frequently used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four forms haven't been as widely utilized however, they could be present in older buildings. They are less hazardous than chrysotile and amosite, but they can pose a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% 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 those working in chrysotile mills and mines.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos as 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 recommended that avoiding all forms of asbestos is the best option because this is the most secure option for individuals. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness, such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory illnesses They should seek advice from their GP or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is one of the minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from each other with octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals can be found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry allows for a range of compositions. The various mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five types of asbestos: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile; each has its own distinct characteristics. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products such as cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have a complex chemical structures and a variety of substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole mineral requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.