The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.

You can't tell if something has asbestos just simply by looking at it and you won't be able to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detected when the material containing it is broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At the height of its use, chrysotile made up 99% of asbestos production. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to increase in the 1960's. It is still present in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile can be safely used in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current safe exposure levels. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.

In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory that primarily used Chrysotile for the production of friction materials and the national death rate. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing edinburgh asbestos attorney chrysotile in low levels of exposure, there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative effects than longer fibres.

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

Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. Amphibole asbestos kinds have been the main cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it forms an extremely durable and flexible building product that can withstand the most extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and then safely taken away.

Amosite

Asbestos is a category of silicate fibrous minerals that occur naturally in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibres that range in length from extremely thin to broad and straight to curled. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used as consumer goods, such as baby powder cosmetics, and even face powder.

The greatest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of twentieth century in the period when it was employed in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace were in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographic location.

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

There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't weaved like the fibrils that are found in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of many countries.

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

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent method by which people are exposed harmful fibres. They can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can also take place in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of exposure are higher when crocidolite (the asbestos in the blue form, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile, making them easier to breathe. They also can get deeper within lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are not as hazardous as chrysotile and amosite, but they could be a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, vimeo such as talc or vermiculite.

Numerous studies have revealed an association between cambridge asbestos attorney exposure and stomach cancer. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: Vimeo 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 is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best option for individuals is to avoid all types of asbestos. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a condition such as mesothelioma or other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their physician or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are groups of minerals which can form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they could be difficult for some to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also have a similar Cleavage. However their chemistry permits many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to determine their composition.

The five types of asbestos belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own unique properties. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This variety was once used in products such as cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.