The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer, as well as other health problems.

It is difficult to tell by looking at something whether it is made of asbestos. It is also impossible to taste or smell it. It is only discovered when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99% of the asbestos produced. It was employed in a variety of industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. Thankfully, the use of this harmful mineral has diminished dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. However, trace amounts remain in common products that we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. It has been discovered that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an unneeded risk to the people working with the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory which used largely chlorosotile to make friction materials and national death rates. It was found that for the 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than fibres with longer lengths.

When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to be airborne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products have been used extensively throughout the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable and flexible material is created which is able to withstand the most 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 is a category of fibrous silicate minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. These fibres can be found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to create talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.

Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed contaminated vermiculite or talc and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time period and geographical location.

Most asbestos exposures at work were because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils that are found in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones from a variety of nations.

Asbestos gets into the environment primarily as airborne particles, but it can also leach into soil and water. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily due to natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogeny, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping materials in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the primary cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos in their job.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos compensation through inhalation is the most common way people are exposed to the harmful fibres, which could then get into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos fibres could also take place in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This type of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile which makes them more difficult to inhale. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.

The six primary types are chrysotile and amosite. The most well-known asbestos types are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos Attorney types aren't as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are not as dangerous as chrysotile or amosite but can still be dangerous when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.

Several studies have found an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.

IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other health problems, but the risks are different based on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved as well as the length of their exposure and the manner in the way that it is breathed in or consumed. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however, some 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 which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated each other with octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and color. They also have a similar the cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five asbestos types in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile, crocidolite, and actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinct properties. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have a an intricate chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. The most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.