The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is impossible to tell just by looking at a thing if it is made of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. It is only visible when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos that was produced. richmond asbestos attorney was used in many industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a concern the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still found in a variety of products we use today.
Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner when a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the current limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and time span 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 the national death rate. The study revealed that after 40 years of manufacturing low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.
Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products are widely utilized in many areas of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined together, a strong product is produced that is able to stand up to extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine), tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibers that vary in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. They 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 talcum powder and vermiculite, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.
The heaviest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century, when it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time period and geographic location.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mostly because of inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed via skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can only be found in the environment because of natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.
Asbestos can enter the environment in many ways, including as airborne particles. It is also able to leach 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 at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly a result of natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities like mining and milling demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness in people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can then get into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can occur in different ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to inhale and can lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.
The main types are chrysotile and amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used forms of asbestos, and comprise 95% of the commercial asbestos that is used. The other four forms haven't been as widely utilized however they can be found in older buildings. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have revealed that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all kinds of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma or other health issues, however the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the way in the way it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms is the most important thing to do as it is the most secure option for those who are exposed. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma, you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prism or needle-like 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 structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.
Amphiboles can be found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they can be difficult for some people to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding design of cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to determine their composition.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze due to their an intricate chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. The most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also don't differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.