The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.

It is difficult to tell by looking at a thing if it is made up of asbestos. It is also impossible to taste or smell it. It can only be found in the event that asbestos-containing products are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of the asbestos production. It was used by many industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become an issue, the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at the present controlled exposure levels. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that used a large proportion of Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing at 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 smaller. They are able to penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues than fibres with longer lengths.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.

Research has revealed that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole types like these are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand harsh conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and taken away.

Amosite

Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that vary in length from extremely fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibres can be found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.

Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century to construct construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but certain workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied by the industry, time frame, and geographic location.

The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos can be found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight weaved fibrils of serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.

Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety ways, such as in airborne particles. It can also leach out into water or soil. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused anthropogenically, such as through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping materials in landfills (ATSDR 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibres remains the main cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent way people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can then enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in a variety of ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. This kind of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.

The main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos and make up 95% of commercial asbestos in use. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence is not conclusive. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for Asbestos all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, although the risks are different based on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos case involved and the duration of their exposure, and the manner in the way it is inhaled or ingested. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma, you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are groups of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but 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 series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated one another by octahedral sites in strips.

Amphiboles can be found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar pattern of cleavage. However their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.

Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. While the most commonly used asbestos type is chrysotile. Each variety is unique in its own way. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite is made up of sharp fibers that are simple to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. The variety was used previously in products such as cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles can be difficult to study due to their complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole mineral requires specialized techniques. The most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.