The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You cannot tell if something is asbestos-containing by looking at it and you won't be able to smell or taste it. It can only be found when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised the majority of asbestos production. It was employed in many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a major concern, the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still present in many products we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in 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 have been strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
One study that looked into a factory that used almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. It was found that over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile at low levels of exposure There was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are used in various parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that chrysotile is less prone to cause illness than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough and flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional and then safely removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as 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, which have been widely used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were airborne asbestos fibres, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to and also from geographical location.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed via skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
It is becoming apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole and serpentine, but are instead loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains, sandstones and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogeny, such as through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos during their occupation.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent method by which people are exposed to harmful fibres. They can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways as well including contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, making them easier to breathe. They also can get deeper in lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six major types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of the commercial asbestos in use. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile, but they can still be dangerous when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Many studies have discovered an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although the risk is dependent on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos used and the duration of their exposure and the method by the way it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has declared that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness, such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and tough. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry can allow for a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition.
The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. While the most commonly used asbestos type is chrysotile; each has its own distinct characteristics. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish color and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special techniques. The most common methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, chandler asbestos attorneys provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.