The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it is made of asbestos. Also, you cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be identified when the substances that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of the asbestos production. It was utilized in a variety of industries such as construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960’s. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be used safely when a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren’t exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current safe exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used chlorosotile to make friction materials and national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer.
When chrysotile mixes with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose any health risk. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, like amosite, crocidolite, or crocidolite, is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it creates a tough, flexible building product that is able to withstand severe weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of silicate mineral fibrous that occur naturally in certain kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: amphibole, serpentine, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals in order to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, and even face powder.
Asbestos was used extensively in the first two thirds of the 20th century to construct construction of ships insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era to and also from geographical location.
The majority of asbestos exposures at work were caused by inhalation, however certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes, clutches, asbestos as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres don’t form the tightly weaved fibrils of amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains in a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it can also leach into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos law-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is largely associated with natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres is still the primary cause of illness among people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent method by which people are exposed harmful fibres. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways as well, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This type of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used forms of asbestos, and comprise 95 percent of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four types haven’t been as extensively used however they can be found in older buildings. They aren’t as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when mixed with other minerals, or when mined close to other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Many studies have discovered an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. The evidence isn’t conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent 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 forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risks vary depending on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos is the most important thing to do since this is the safest option for individuals. If you’ve been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma condition, then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system 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 from one another by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar cut. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.
The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. While the most frequently used asbestos type is chrysotile. Each variety has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite ranges from brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles can be difficult to study due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular 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. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.