The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.

It is not possible to tell by simply looking at something whether it contains asbestos. Also, you cannot smell or taste it. It is only visible when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile made the majority of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. In the event that workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a concern the use of asbestos has been drastically reduced. It is still present in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been proven that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no unneeded risk to the people who handle it. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used largely chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. The study revealed that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility.

Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.

When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risk. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.

Research has shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole kinds have been the main cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined, a durable product is produced that is able to stand up to extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in a variety of rock formations. It is divided into six groups: amphibole (serpentine) and the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibres that range in length, ranging from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals in order to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, Florence asbestos lawyer and face powder.

Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era and geographic location.

The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly caused by inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed through skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is only found in the environment because of natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.

It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.

Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is typically a result of natural weathering, but has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities such as milling and mining demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibres remains the main cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent method by which people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can then enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can be triggered in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of meridian asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile and therefore easier to inhale. They can also lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos currently used. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile, but they can still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.

IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all types of Escalon Asbestos. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a condition such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory ailments and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, however some exhibit an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons can be separated by octahedral strips.

Amphiboles occur in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding Cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole can be used to identify them.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and actinolite. Each variety of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are simple to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish color and is composed primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.