The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.

You cannot tell by just taking a look at something if it's made of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be identified when the substances that contain it are broken or drilled.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 95% of the asbestos created. It was used in many industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. 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 was first becoming a concern the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. It is still present in many products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk based on 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 both in terms of intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used largely Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure There was no significant excess mortality in this factory.

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 therefore more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.

It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has shown that amphibole asbestos, like amosite or crocidolite is less likely to cause disease. These amphibole types have been the most common source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it creates a tough, flexible building product that can withstand extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate mineral fibrous that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

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

The largest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by the industry, time frame, and geographic location.

Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed via skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is found in the air due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials, such as ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches, and insulation.

It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, but are instead loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries.

Asbestos can enter the environment in a variety of ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It is also able to leach into soil or water. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of Asbestos (Dnpaint.Co.Kr)-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness among people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can also take place in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This kind of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe. They also can get deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other form of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used forms of asbestos, and comprise 95% of commercial asbestos currently used. The other four types of asbestos haven't been as popularly used, but they may still be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than chrysotile or amosite but can still be dangerous when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% C.I. 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 risks vary depending on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos lawsuit is involved, and how long exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best option for people is to avoid all types of asbestos. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma and other respiratory conditions it is recommended that they seek advice from their physician or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically 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 consist of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated each other by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.

Amphiboles can be found in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark-colored and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they may be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a similar design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for the use of a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to determine their composition.

Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has its own distinctive properties. The most hazardous type of asbestos, crocidolite is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish color and is composed mostly of iron and magnesium. It was previously used in cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.