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 many other health issues.

It is impossible to determine if a product is asbestos-containing by looking at it and you cannot smell or taste it. It can only be found in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile provided for 99% of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries which included construction, fireproofing, and insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became an issue asbestos use has been reduced significantly. It is still found in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. It has been discovered that at the current controlled exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers working with the substance. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been strongly linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.

One study that examined the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of 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 at this facility.

Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other types of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres.

It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been used extensively throughout the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.

Research has shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined together, a strong product is produced which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and safely disposed of.

Amosite

Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. They are present in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. These are commonly used in consumer products like baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.

Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to, and geographical location.

Asbestos exposure in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.

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

Asbestos is able to enter the environment in a variety of ways, including as airborne particles. It is also able to leach into soil or water. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of asbestos compensation-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres remains the main cause of illness for people exposed to it occupationally.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to the fibres can be experienced in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle which makes them more difficult to breathe. They also can get deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.

The main types are chrysotile and amosite. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as extensively used, but they may still be present in older buildings. They are not as dangerous as chrysotile or amosite but can still be a danger when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite.

Many studies have discovered an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos legal exposure and stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved, and how long exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice 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 then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral made up of double chains of molecules of SiO4. 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 are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons can be separated from one another with octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and color. They also share a similar cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide variety of compositions. The different amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has its own unique properties. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is made up of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques, cannot distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.