Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos are naturally formed as bundles of durable and thin fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire as well as chemical and electrical conductivity. They possess a high tensile and
asbestos law wear strength. Asbestos is used in a variety of products, including floor tiles and insulation, paint, and fabric that is heat-resistant.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980, Chrysotile (also called white
asbestos law) was the most widely used form of the mineral. It was utilized because it was fireproof, inexpensive and durable. It was later discovered to be extremely harmful and connected to mesothelioma-related diseases. Some countries still employ asbestos, but a global ban is needed.
Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile. carcinogenic, and no amount of exposure can be considered to be safe. Companies who mine and sell asbestos claim that chrysotile's health is better than the older forms of the mineral, because it's tightly packaged and is non-friable.
This kind of asbestos is less harmful than amphibole asbestos types, but it is still hazardous for workers to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular type of asbestos mined, and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous mineral that appears like threads and feels soft to the touch. Through electron microscopy, the fibers appear to be tubes. They are actually a mixture of structural layers of minerals that are which are rolled into spiral forms.
Chrysotile has been found to cause a variety of ailments, including pleural mesothelioma lung cancer, and other respiratory problems. It has been linked to cardiovascular disease and digestive issues. These conditions are more prevalent for those who work with chrysotile due to of their long-term exposure to it. Asbestos chrysotile was once widely used in auto and construction repair. It may be present in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is comprised of six different types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties, but all six are linked to increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals Chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite and Tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular asbestos type in the United States. It can still be found in the roofs, walls and floors of many businesses and homes. It was also used in automobile brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals and thermal insulation. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles, cement sheets, and pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos are dangerous if inhaled. The exposure to any form of asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other conditions of the pleura. Inhalation is the most common method of exposure to asbestos, but it can also happen when handling or working with the fibres. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly hazardous when the fibres are friable which means they break easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.
Friability is dependent on the thickness of the fibres and their length. The longer and longer fibres are more likely to penetrate deeper into the lungs, whereas thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do so.
The most common method to expose workers to asbestos is by taking it off or handling asbestos. This is because asbestos is a very fine substance and can be released into the air as dust when it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed, it may release small fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping action could cause the fibres to break up when vacuuming them, while causing them to stick to surfaces.
Crocidolite
As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) the amphibole asbestos is composed of long, straight chain-like fibres which are more fragile and hazardous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown
asbestos case) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most popular amphibole asbestos. They also exist in different forms, such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos are found in natural deposits along with chrysotile. It is believed that the other asbestos minerals are contaminants in crocidolite deposits and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposit.
Asbestos is used in a range of products including asbestos cement sheets and pipes as well as friction materials for car brakes, gaskets, and coatings. The fibres can be woven into paper, fabrics, mastics, thread or joined with Portland cement resins, plastics, or resins. The size and length of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres are usually employed in electrical insulation, textiles and filters; while the longer fibres are used in asbestos cement sheets, pipes and flooring.
Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. These studies yield varied results, but the conclusions are skewed due to the lack of research. In general, the risk of stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effects are lessened when the latency in the time since first exposure is considered.
Other types of asbestos have been linked in the formation of mesothelioma which is a malignant tumor that affects the lining of the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). It has been discovered that children who are exposed to asbestos are at a higher risk for developing mesothelioma than adults. The reasons are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most frequent asbestos-related illness. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, and is usually more serious than other types of asbestos-related disease. It can affect the lungs, and occasionally other organs such as the stomach or heart. It can also cause mesothelioma - a rare cancer that affects lungs lining.
Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It was extensively used in the construction industry and can be found in a myriad of products.
Most people are not afflicted by low levels of airborne asbestos. However, those who do get sick are usually exposed frequently to
asbestos law while working in a particular job and often for a prolonged period of time. The most frequent jobs that require asbestos are shipbuilding, mining and construction. In recent years, government regulations have helped limit the use and amount of asbestos in buildings. It is still found in older household products, such as crayons and toys for children.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung ailments such as mesothelioma or asbestosis as well as other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised type of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air and may be inhaled. When inhaled, these fibres may become trapped deep inside the lungs. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This can result in mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as other diseases that can take years to develop. Smoking and having a family background of asbestos-related diseases are two factors that increase the chance of developing.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacturing of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. The fibers are later taken in by swallowing or inhalation and cause serious health issues like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that grows in the organ's lining, called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the lung linings and the abdomen.