The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.

You cannot tell by just looking at something if it's made of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It is only discovered when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in a variety of products we use in the present.

Chrysotile can be used safely with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present safe exposure levels. Inhaling airborne fibres has been found to be strongly linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven both for intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.

A study that looked at the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.

Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative consequences than longer fibres.

When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are used in various parts of the world including hospitals and schools.

Studies have shown that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos case-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed with cement, a tough and flexible material is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional and disposed of.

Amosite

Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibres that range in length from extremely thin to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.

Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and to pieces of asbestos law (Going Here)-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to the type of industry, the time period, and geographic location.

The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed through skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is found in the environment because of natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials, such as ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches as well as insulation.

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

Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it also leaches into water and soil. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by anthropogeny, such as through mining and milling of asbestos lawyer-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is the most common reason for illness among those who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to asbestos fibres can be triggered in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The dangers of exposure are higher when crocidolite (the asbestos in the blue form is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos types.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used types of asbestos and account for 95% of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four types haven't been as widely utilized however they can be found in older buildings. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.

Several studies have found an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and 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 how much exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that abstaining from all asbestos litigation forms is the best option since this is the most safe option for Asbestos law those who are exposed. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a disease such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory conditions and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system 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 in a series of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites in strips.

Amphiboles occur in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they could be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also have a comparable cut. Their chemistry allows for a range of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. While the most popular form of asbestos is chrysotile, each variety has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish color and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. The most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. These methods, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.