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, as well as other health problems.
It is difficult to tell if something contains asbestos simply by looking at it and you cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when the material containing it is broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was used in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to the toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a concern the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. However, it is still present in trace amounts. can still be found in the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been determined that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers working with the substance. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been found to be strongly linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory which used largely Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. The study found that after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative consequences than longer fibres.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely to cause diseases. These amphibole types are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable product is produced which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in various types of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: amphibole, serpentine, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. They are found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals in order to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.
The greatest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to industry, time period, and geographic location.
Most asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated, such as ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.
It is becoming clear that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that don't form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos may enter the environment in a variety ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It is also able to leach into water or soil. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is largely associated with natural weathering, but has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lung, causing serious health problems. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be triggered in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos.
The six main kinds are chrysotile and amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used forms of asbestos and account for 95% of commercial asbestos that is used. The other four have not been as popularly used however, they could be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, however they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
A number of studies have demonstrated an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others report an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in mines and chrysotile mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. plano asbestos attorneys can cause mesothelioma however the risks differ based on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos should be the highest priority, as this is the best option for those who are exposed. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals that can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically 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 made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles are present in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding the cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to determine their composition.
Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five asbestos types amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own unique properties. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to study because of their an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. The most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example cannot differentiate between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques do not differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.