The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You cannot tell by just taking a look at something if it is made up of asbestos. Neither can you taste or smell it. It is only visible in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At the height of its use, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to the toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use this harmful mineral has diminished dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current limits of exposure. The inhalation of airborne particles has been found to be strongly linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven both in terms of intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.
A study that looked at the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials compared mortality rates in this factory with national mortality rates. It was concluded that for the 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure There was no significant extra mortality in the factory.
As opposed to el monte asbestos law firm of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.
Studies have shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the primary cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that is able to withstand severe weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates that are found in a variety of rock formations. It is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can be curled or straight. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder that are widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace were in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry industry, from era to, and geographical location.
The majority of asbestos exposures at work were caused by inhalation, however some workers were also exposed through skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is currently only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined ore and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that are not the tightly interwoven fibrils that are found in the amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs and mountains from a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in many ways, such as in airborne particles. It is also able to leach into soil or water. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). 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 of asbestos-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is the primary reason for illness among those exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lung which can cause serious health issues. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos can happen in different ways too, such as contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are greater when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite and actinolite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a risk when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite and talc.
Several studies have found an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have cited a 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% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma or other health problems, but the risks differ based on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos used as well as the length of their exposure and the manner in which it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has stated that the best option for people is to avoid all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma condition, then you should see your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however, some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.
Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding cut. Their chemistry can allow for a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them.
Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five types of asbestos: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers which are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze due to their complex chemical structures and a variety of substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.