Types of Asbestos
The six varieties of amorphous asbestos are found in nature as bundles of fine fibrous fibres that are durable. They are able to withstand chemical, heat, fire and electrical conductivity. They also have exceptional tensile strength and wear. Asbestos is used in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile, known as white asbestos was the most commonly used form of the mineral used in a myriad of products prior to its ban in the 1980s. It was popular because it was fireproof, inexpensive and long-lasting. It was discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to mesothelioma and other cancers. While some countries still employ asbestos, a complete worldwide ban is needed now.
Health care experts continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic, and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered safe. However despite this,
asbestos lawyer the companies that mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they create is safer than earlier types of the mineral, because it is tightly packed and non-friable.
Although this kind of asbestos is less dangerous than amphibole asbestos, it's still dangerous to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely used kind of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority mesothelioma cancer cases in the world. Chrysotile is a golden or brown yellow fibrous mineral that appears like threads, and feels soft to the touch. Under an electron microscopy, the fibres appear like tubes. They are actually composed of structural layers of minerals that have been rolled into spiral form.
Chrysotile is known to trigger numerous diseases, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. These diseases are more common among those who work with chrysotile because of their constant exposure to it. Workers in construction and repair of vehicles are the most likely to come across Chrysotile asbestos since it was once a well-known. It may be present in older buildings and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six types of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been used to make
asbestos lawyer. Each mineral has its particular chemical composition and characteristics and all six are associated with increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the serpentine and amphibole minerals chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite. They also include amosite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular asbestos type in the United States. It is still used in the roofs, walls and floors of a variety of buildings and homes. It was also used in the manufacture of automobile brake linings, gaskets, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain chrysotile are shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos are dangerous when inhaled. The exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is most commonly caused by inhalation, but can also be caused by working or handling asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos is particularly dangerous when the asbestos is friable that is to say they break down easily and may be inhaled as dust particles.
Friability is a function of the length and the thickness of the fibers. The longer and more dense fibers are more likely than shorter and shorter ones to penetrate deeply into the lungs.
The most popular method to expose workers to asbestos is through manipulating or removing it. Asbestos is a fine, crystal-like material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept up or vacuumed, it can release small fibres in the air. This is because sweeping could cause fibres to break while vacuuming causes them stick to surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long straight fibres that are brittle. They are also more hazardous to inhale. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include actinolite or anthophyllite. These types of asbestos can be found in natural deposits with the chrysotile. These other asbestos minerals may be contaminants in crocidolite mixed with chrysotile to form a deposit.
Asbestos is used in a range of products including asbestos cement pipe and sheets and friction materials used in car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres are made into fabric, paper, thread, mastics, or bound with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The size and length of the fibres determine the best application. The shorter fibres can be used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while the longer ones are utilized for asbestos sheets, pipes, and flooring.
Numerous studies have shown that asbestos exposure is linked to and stomach cancer. The results of these studies vary however, and the conclusions are limited by the comparatively limited literature on this topic. In general the risk of stomach cancer is seen to increase when the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. The effect is reduced when latency from the first exposure is considered.
Other types of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant tumour affecting the lining of the abdomen and chest). It has been found that children exposed to asbestos are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reasons for this are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one the most frequent illnesses caused by asbestos. It can be caused by exposure to asbestos and is more serious than other types of asbestos-related illnesses. It affects the lungs and sometimes other organs like the stomach, the heart and bladder. It could also cause mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is composed of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It was widely employed in the construction industry and is present in a myriad of products.
Most people are not affected by the low levels of airborne asbestos. The people who do fall ill are usually exposed to
asbestos claim on a regular basis in a specific occupation and over a long period of time. The most frequent jobs that require asbestos include mining, shipbuilding and construction. In recent years, federal regulations have helped limit asbestos' use and it is now present in fewer structures. It is still present in older household products, such as children's toys and crayons.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognized form of asbestos. Crocidolite and amphibole are also kinds of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopically, tiny fibres are released into the air and can be inhaled. Inhaling these fibres, they could become trapped in the lung. The asbestos fibers can cause scarring and inflammation of the lung. This could result in lung carcinoma mesothelioma, mesothelioma or other illnesses that can take years to develop. Smoking and having a family background of asbestos-related illnesses are other factors that increase your risk.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacturing of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are then swallowed or inhaled and cause serious health conditions such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that grows in the organ's lining known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is most often affecting the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).