The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety 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 difficult to tell by looking at something if it is made up of asbestos. Neither can you taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be detected when the substances that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 95% of the asbestos that was produced. It was used in many industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. In the event that workers were exposed to the toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma was first becoming a concern asbestos use has been reduced significantly. However, trace amounts can still be found in the products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used safely if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there is no danger to those handling it. Inhaling airborne fibres has been linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.

One study that studied a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.

Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than fibrils with a longer length.

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

Research has proven that amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. Amphibole types like these are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it creates a tough, flexible building product that is able to withstand severe conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional and Asbestos Attorney safely eliminated.

Amosite

Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicate minerals that occur naturally in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups: amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

asbestos case minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to form vermiculite or talcum powder. They are used extensively as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.

The largest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds period of the 20th century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by the type of industry, the time period and geographic location.

Most asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the air due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches as well as insulation.

There is evidence to suggest that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries.

Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety ways, including as airborne particles. It can also leach out into water or soil. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibers is the primary cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos at work.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lung, causing serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses can be caused by Asbestos Attorney fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle making them more palatable to breathe in. They also can get deeper in lung tissues. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos.

The six primary types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four types of asbestos haven't been as widely used however they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile but still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.

Several studies have found an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an 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 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.

IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risks vary depending on the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are groups of minerals that form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although 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, which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by octahedral strips.

Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark and hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. While the most commonly used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products such as cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are hard to analyze because they have a complex chemical structures and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, asbestos attorney these methods only give approximate identifications. For instance, they can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.