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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer and many other health problems.

You cannot tell by just looking at something if it is made up of asbestos. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile comprised the majority of the asbestos produced. It was employed in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers were exposed to this toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos lawyer related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a major concern asbestos use has decreased significantly. However, trace amounts of it are still present in the products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present limits of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.

One study that studied a factory that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials compared mortality rates at this factory with national mortality rates. It was found that over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They can enter the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues than fibres that are longer.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely used in many parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.

Research has shown that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos like amosite and crocidolite. Amphibole asbestos types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile and cement are mixed together, a strong and flexible material is created that is able to withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).

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

The most extensive asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of twentieth century in the period when it was employed in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres in the air, however certain workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by the type of industry, the time period and geographic location.

Exposure to asbestos attorney in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and deterioration of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.

There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, they are loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibres are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.

Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it can also leach into soil and water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused anthropogenically, such as by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos during their work.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lungs which can cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too, such as contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are greater when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe. They can also get deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.

The six primary kinds are chrysotile and amosite. The most well-known asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four forms haven't been as popularly used however they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile. However, they can pose a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.

Numerous studies have revealed an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, and others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in mines and chrysotile mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 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 the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, but certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to differentiate from the pyroxenes. They also have a comparable the cleavage. Their chemistry can allow for a variety of compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

The five asbestos types belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each variety of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish color and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement-based products and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have complex chemical structures and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.