The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and a host of other health problems.

You cannot tell by just looking at something whether it is made up of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be detected when materials containing it are broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of the asbestos production. It was used in many industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still found in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner if a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to an undue amount of risk at the current controlled exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory which used largely chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. The study found that, after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.

In contrast to other forms of Asbestos Attorney, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to causing health effects than fibres with longer lengths.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used in many parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.

Research has revealed that chrysotile is less likely to cause illness than amphibole asbestos such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined, a durable and flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional, and then taken away.

Amosite

Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).

Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.

The greatest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of 20th century where it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era era and even geographical location.

Most occupational exposures to asbestos were because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through contact with skin or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos can be found in the natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes and clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.

There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not have the tight interwoven fibrils that are found in the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs from a variety of nations.

Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) 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 a result of natural weathering, but it has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the main cause of disease among those exposed to asbestos in their job.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed harmful fibres that can then enter the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe in. They also can get deeper inside lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos litigation types.

The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. The most well-known asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile. However, they could pose a threat when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.

Numerous studies have shown an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% 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 workers in mines and chrysotile mills.

IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, however the risks vary according to how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos used and the duration of their exposure and the method by which it is breathed in or ingested. IARC has declared that the best choice for people is to avoid all types of asbestos. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma or other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They typically have a monoclinic crystal system but some also 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 that are linked in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. However their chemistry allows many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and actinolite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own unique properties. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish color and is composed mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have a an intricate chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these methods can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.