The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety 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 by just taking a look at something if it contains asbestos. Neither can you smell or taste it. It can only be found when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At the height of its use, chrysotile made the majority of the asbestos production. It was utilized in a variety of industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a major concern, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still present in many products we use today.
Chrysotile can be used safely if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current controlled exposure levels. Inhaling airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.
A study that looked at a facility that used nearly all chrysotile as its friction materials compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. The study found that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues than fibres with longer lengths.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely utilized in many areas of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. These amphibole types are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix together, a strong and flexible material is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. They are present in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying edges called a fibril matrix. asbestos Attorney is also found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to form vermiculite or talcum powder. They are used extensively in consumer products such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.
Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and asbestos attorney various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however certain workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time, and geographic location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos can be found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.
It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibres may 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 can be found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of many countries.
Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly 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 anthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos case-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in ground and surface water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres remains the main cause of illness in people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed to harmful fibres. They can then enter the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, a asbestos’ blue form is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle and therefore easier to inhale. They can also lodge deeper inside lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma cases than any other form of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile, however they could pose a threat when mixed with other asbestos minerals, or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.
A number of studies have demonstrated an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all kinds of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoid all forms of asbestos should be the top priority as it is the most secure option for those who are exposed. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a condition such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory illnesses They should seek advice from their physician or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is one of the minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons, which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles can be found in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they could be difficult for some to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition.
The five types of asbestos lawsuit in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinct properties. The most hazardous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are simple to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. The variety was used previously in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyse because of their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. For instance, they are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.