• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

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 a host of other health issues.

You cannot tell if something includes asbestos by looking at it and you cannot taste or smell it. It can only be found when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was used by many industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a major concern, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still present in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that you have a complete safety and handling program in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current safe exposure levels. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma were all associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.

In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that used a large proportion of Chrysotile for the production of friction materials and national death rates. It was concluded 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 types of asbestos. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has shown that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos attorney such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole forms have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms a tough, flexible building product that can withstand the most extreme weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.

Amosite

Asbestos refers to a group of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain kinds of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).

Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. These fibres are found in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. They are used extensively in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.

Asbestos was widely used during the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing, insulation and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographic location.

Most of the occupational exposures to asbestos were due to inhalation. However, certain workers were exposed through contact with skin or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only found in the environment due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.

There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not have the tight knit fibrils of the amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs in a variety of countries.

Asbestos is able to enter the environment in a variety of ways, including through airborne particles. It can also be absorbed into water or soil. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness among people exposed to it occupationally.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways as well including contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos attorney form) is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. The most common asbestos types are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% C.I. 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines 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 the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option since this is the safest option for individuals. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma then you should see your physician or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure but some also have an orthorhombic structure. 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 can be separated by octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals can be found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding cleavage pattern. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to determine their composition.

The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include amosite, anthophyllite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. While the most commonly used form of asbestos is chrysotile, each variety has its own unique characteristics. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are simple to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are hard to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these methods are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.