The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You cannot tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it, and you won't be able to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made the majority of asbestos production. It was used by many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this harmful mineral has diminished significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it remain in the products we use today.
Chrysotile can be safely used with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to a significant amount of risk at the current safe exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. 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 manufacturing facility that primarily used chlorosotile to make friction materials and national death rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole types are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed with cement, a tough and flexible material is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and then safely disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in certain types rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole as well as tremolite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used in consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.
The heaviest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres in the air, however certain workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to the type of industry, the time period and geographical location.
The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through contact with skin or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is currently only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes and clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight woven fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.
Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly a result of natural weathering, however it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres is still the primary cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent method by which people are exposed to the harmful fibres. They can then get into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in a variety of ways including contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile making them more palatable to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other types of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most popular forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four forms haven't been as widely used but they can be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they could pose a threat when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Many studies have discovered an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. 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 and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, however the risks differ based on how much exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure, and the manner in which it is breathed in or consumed. IARC has declared that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is one of the minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They are a monoclinic system of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark-colored and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and color. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry can allow for a variety of compositions. The different amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. 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 because they have an intricate chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. Therefore, south carolina asbestos lawyer of their composition requires specialized techniques. The most common methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example, cannot distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.