The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. According research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and a host of other health issues.
You can't tell if something includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you are unable to taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was employed in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. In the event that workers were exposed to the toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it are still present in many of the products we use today.
Chrysotile can be safely used if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers working with the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used almost exclusively Chrysotile for the production of friction materials and national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates in this factory.
Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively utilized in many areas of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely to cause disease. Amphibole asbestos types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it forms a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates that are found in various types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. They are found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.
Asbestos was widely used during the early two-thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing, insulation and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to, and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly caused by inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and deterioration of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
There is growing evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. deltona asbestos lawyer can be found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it can also leach into water and soil. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly a result of natural weathering, but it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling 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 who are exposed to it during their work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be triggered in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to inhale and can lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos.
The main types are chrysotile and amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are the most frequently used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of commercial asbestos currently used. The other four asbestos types aren't as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile. However, they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Many studies have discovered an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However, the evidence is contradictory. 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 those who work in chrysotile mills and mines.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risks vary depending on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to avoid 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 consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals which can form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however some may 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. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral site.
Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and tough. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also have a comparable Cleavage. Their chemistry allows for a variety of compositions. The different mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each type of asbestos comes with distinct characteristics. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite is made up of sharp fibers that are simple to inhale into the lung. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. The most common methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods can only give approximate identifications. For example, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio-hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.