The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it's made of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. It can only be found when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99percent of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to spread in the 1960's. However, trace amounts remain in common products that we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. It has been discovered that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those working with it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. palm coast asbestos lawyer has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
One study that studied the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national mortality rates. It was found that for the 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure There was no significant extra mortality in the factory.
Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They are able to penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has shown that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole kinds have been the main cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible material is created that is able to stand up to 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 refers to a group of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is divided into six groups including amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibers that vary in length from extremely fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals are also found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products like baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.
The most extensive asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of 20th century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to, and geographical location.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed via skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos such as insulation, car brakes and clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is growing evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils that are found in serpentine and amphibole, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. They can be found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of a variety of countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is largely associated with natural weathering, however it has also been caused by human activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres remains the main reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to harmful fibres that can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too including contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. The risks of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, a asbestos' blue form, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle, making them easier to breathe in. They also can get deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other health problems, but the risks are different based on how much exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used, the duration of their exposure and the method by which it is breathed in or consumed. IARC has declared that the best option for people is to avoid all types of asbestos. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a condition such as mesothelioma or other respiratory diseases and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, however certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a ring of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding Cleavage. However their chemistry allows many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to identify them.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each kind of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish color and is composed primarily of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.