The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to studies, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is difficult to tell if something includes asbestos by looking at it, and you cannot smell or taste it. It is only visible when materials containing asbestos are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 95% of the asbestos that was produced. It was used by many industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use this harmful mineral has diminished drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be safely used when a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to a significant amount of risk at the present limits of exposure. The inhalation of airborne particles has been found to be strongly linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory that primarily used chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. It was found that over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure There was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Studies have shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause disease than amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it forms a tough, flexible building product that can withstand harsh weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that are found naturally in specific types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder and are used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder, and baby powder.
Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by industry, time and geographical location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually caused by inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only found in the environment due to natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't knit like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by anthropogeny, such as through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). pennsylvania asbestos attorney are the most significant cause of illness among people who are exposed to it during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways, too like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile and therefore easier to inhale. They can also be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other types of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most frequently used types of asbestos. They comprise 95% of all asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four types haven't been as widely used, but they may still be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile, but they can still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have revealed that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However there is no conclusive evidence. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risks vary depending on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals which can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure however, some have an orthorhombic structure. 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 by octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and are hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also have a similar cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for the use of a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups in amphibole can be used to identify them.
The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. While the most frequently used form of asbestos is chrysotile; each is unique in its own way. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It has sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and numerous 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, cannot distinguish between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.