The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You cannot tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it, and you cannot taste or smell it. It is only visible when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was used by many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it are still present in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at the current safe exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
A study that looked at an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared the mortality rates of this factory with national death rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.
Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can enter the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres with longer lengths.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong product is produced that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and taken away.
Amosite
Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates found in various types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine) and the tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics and facial powder.
Asbestos was extensively used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by industry, time, and geographic location.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed via skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, and insulation.
There is emerging evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. They can be found in mountains, sandstones and cliffs from a variety of nations.
Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities like mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres is the most common cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be triggered in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile and therefore easier to inhale. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissues. alaska asbestos law firm has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most common asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as common, but may still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, however they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma as well as other health problems, but the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the type of asbestos used as well as the duration of exposure and the manner in the way it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option as it is the safest option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is one of the minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system, although some have 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 by tetrahedron rings made of six. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. However their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The various 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 chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. While the most commonly used form of asbestos is chrysotile. Each variety has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers which are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite ranges from brown to yellowish in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This variety was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example, cannot distinguish between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.