The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Before it was banned, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

You can't tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it and you won't be able to smell or taste 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 the majority of the asbestos production. It was employed in many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a problem asbestos use has been drastically reduced. However, trace amounts of it remain in the products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner if a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been found that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to the people who handle it. Inhaling airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for the intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.

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

Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They are able to enter the lungs, and asbestos attorney then pass through the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative consequences than longer fibres.

When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used in many parts of the world including hospitals and schools.

Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, like amosite, crocidolite, or crocidolite, is less likely to cause diseases. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it forms a tough, flexible building product that can withstand the most extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos refers to a group of silicate minerals with fibrous structure which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

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

The greatest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of 20th century, when it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era era, and geographical location.

The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly due to inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed via skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is only found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, and insulation.

There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs and mountains in a variety of countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into water and soil. 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 surface and ground water is largely associated with natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres remains the main reason for illness among those who are exposed to asbestos case on a daily basis.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung, causing serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways, too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissues. It 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 popular asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as common, but may still be found in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile. However, they could pose a threat when mixed with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.

Many studies have discovered an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos settlement workers, whereas others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of Asbestos Attorney is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option, as this is the safest option for those who are exposed. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral site.

Amphiboles are present in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark-colored and tough. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding Cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them.

The five types of asbestos that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite, and actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish color and is composed mostly of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement 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 special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance, cannot distinguish between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.