The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it is made up of asbestos. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. It can only be found when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of asbestos production. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. In the event that workers were exposed to this harmful substance, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use this harmful mineral has diminished significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to grow in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it remain in products that we use today.
Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been discovered that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers who handle the substance. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
One study that examined an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials, compared mortality rates in this facility with national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.
Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause ill-health consequences than longer fibres.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibers to be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used in many parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has revealed that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos kinds have been the main source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix and cured, a tough, flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and then safely disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine), tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can be curled or straight. They are present in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles with 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 vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.
Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, however some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to, and geographical location.
Asbestos exposure at work is mostly caused by inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed through contact with skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only present in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
It is becoming clear that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils that are found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. citrus heights asbestos attorney can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety of ways, including through airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering, but has also been caused by human activities such as milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres is the most common cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed harmful fibres, which could then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibers can also take place in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The risks of exposure are greater when crocidolite which is the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four have not been as widely utilized, but they may still be present in older buildings. They are less hazardous than chrysotile and amosite, but they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have revealed that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have reported an 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 workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on how much exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best option for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma condition, then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that may form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of molecules of SiO4. They are a monoclinic system of crystals, but some exhibit 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 that are joined in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from 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 distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar design of cleavage. However their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The different mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.
The five asbestos types belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. While the most frequently used asbestos type is chrysotile. Each variety has distinct characteristics. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are hard to analyze because they have a a complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.