The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it contains asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was employed in a variety of industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this harmful mineral has diminished dramatically since mesothelioma awareness 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 in a safe manner when a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the current limit of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed both for intensity (dose) as in the time of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory which used almost exclusively Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates in this factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.
Research has shown that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough and flexible material is created that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. They can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used in consumer products like baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.
The largest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to the type of industry, the time period and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed via skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos can be found in the the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the cliffs and mountains from a variety of countries.
Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at 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 asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of disease among those exposed to asbestos in their work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can then enter the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The dangers of exposure are greater when crocidolite, the asbestos in the blue form is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile making them more palatable to breathe in. They can also get deeper in lung tissue. billings asbestos attorney has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most commonly used asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile. However, they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.
A number of studies have demonstrated an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for workers in mines and chrysotile mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best option for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma, then you should see your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure but some also have an orthorhombic structure. 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 may be separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark and hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and color. They also have a similar cut. However their chemistry permits an array of compositions. The various mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.
The five types of asbestos belonging to the amphibole family are chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite, and actinolite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile; each has its own unique characteristics. The most dangerous type 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 made mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to study because of their complex chemical structures and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these methods cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. These techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and.