The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You can't tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it, and you cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be detected when the materials that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 95% of the asbestos that was produced. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became an issue, the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. However, trace amounts are still present in the products we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been proven that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there isn't an danger to those working with it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
A study that looked at the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials, compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.
In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can enter the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and cause health hazards. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also simple 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 mineral fibrous which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. suffolk asbestos lawsuit can also be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can be found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder that are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder, and baby powder.
The heaviest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of the 20th century, when it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to airborne asbestos fibres, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era to era, and geographical location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly caused by inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.
There is growing evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine, but are instead loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of a variety of countries.
Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly 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) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly due to natural weathering, but has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness for people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed to the harmful fibres, which could be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in a variety of ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are higher when crocidolite, a blue form of asbestos is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are easier to breathe in and can get deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other types of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Many studies have discovered an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risk is different based on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the top priority, as this is the safest option for people. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from respiratory issues or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic structure of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral site.
Amphiboles occur in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity in strength and colour, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry permits a wide variety of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. While the most commonly used asbestos type is chrysotile. Each variety has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that can be easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.