The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used 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 impossible to determine if a product contains asbestos simply by looking at it and you won't be able to taste or smell it. It is only visible when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile made up for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was employed in a variety of industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to the toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem the use of asbestos has been drastically reduced. It is still present in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling plan in place. It has been determined that at the present exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers working with it. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

One study that examined a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials, compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. It was found that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure, there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative effects than fibres with longer lengths.

It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used in various parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.

Studies have shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause illness than amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole types like these are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined together, asbestos litigation a strong and flexible product is created that can withstand 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 refers to a group of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from extremely thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder, and baby powder.

Asbestos was extensively used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied by the type of industry, the time period and geographical location.

Asbestos exposure at work is mostly because of inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through contact with skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is only present in the the natural weathering of mined minerals and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.

It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't knit like the fibrils found in serpentine and amphibole, but are instead loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogeny, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of illness in people who are exposed to it during their occupation.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and Asbestos Litigation other illnesses can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too like contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe in. They can also lodge deeper in lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.

The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial Asbestos Litigation employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.

Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of 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 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 and other health issues, however the risks vary according to the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos lawsuit used as well as the length of their exposure and the manner in which it is breathed in or consumed. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to avoid all forms of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma condition, then you should consult your GP or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is one of the minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. 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 composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphibole minerals are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for a wide range of compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile, crocidolite, and actinolite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile, each variety is unique in its own way. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers which are easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish color and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement-based products and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are hard to study because of their an intricate chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.