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 and other health problems.
It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it is made up of asbestos. It is also impossible to taste or smell it. It can only be found when materials containing asbestos are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made the majority of asbestos production. It was utilized in a variety of industries including construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, mckinney asbestos law firm has declined dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling plan in place. It has been determined that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there isn't an danger to the people handling the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.
One study that looked into the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility.
Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can pass through the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to causing health consequences than longer fibres.
When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risk. Fibre cement products are extensively used in many parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable, flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that are found naturally in specific kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups including amphibole (serpentine), the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibers that range in length, ranging from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They can be found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used in consumer products such as baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.
Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, however some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era era, and geographical location.
Exposure to asbestos at work is mostly because of inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through contact with skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos can be found in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos like insulation, car brakes and clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is growing evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose and flexible, and needle-like. They can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of many countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment 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 human-caused (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly due to natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as milling and mining demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of disease among those exposed to it in their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung, causing serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in other ways as well, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are more easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other types of asbestos.
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 and chrysotile, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four types haven't been as widely used however, they could be found in older buildings. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile, but they may pose a danger when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However, the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of 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 working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all forms of asbestos as 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 how long the exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option since this is the most safe option for those who are exposed. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness, such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory conditions it is recommended that they seek advice from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole belongs to a group of 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 system, 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 linked together in a ring of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated from one another with octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a similar cleavage pattern. However their chemistry permits many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide 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 or pargasite.