The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was still used in a variety of commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is difficult to tell by looking at a thing if it is made of asbestos. Also, you cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up for 99% of the asbestos created. It was used in many industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a problem the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. However, trace amounts can still be found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. It has been found that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to the people who handle it. 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 for intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.
One study that studied a facility that used nearly exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates in this factory.
Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. These amphibole types are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong, flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a set of silicate minerals with fibrous structure which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that vary in length, ranging from very fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals in order to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.
The greatest asbestos use was during the early two-thirds of the twentieth century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time period, and geographic location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly because of inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated like ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways, too like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile, making them easier to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper inside lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The main kinds are chrysotile and amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used forms of
Asbestos attorney and make up 95% of all commercial asbestos in use. The other four forms haven't been as extensively used but they can be present in older buildings. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.
A number of studies have demonstrated an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However, the evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 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 those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all
asbestos compensation types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, however the risks vary according to the amount of exposure that people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved as well as the duration of exposure, and the manner in which it is breathed in or ingested. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos is the best option, as this is the most secure option for people. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory diseases and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or
Asbestos Attorney NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules.