The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is difficult to tell if something has asbestos just simply by looking at it and you won't be able to taste or smell it. It is only visible in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries which included construction, fireproofing, and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became an issue, the use of
asbestos case has declined significantly. However, trace amounts are still found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at the present controlled exposure levels. Inhaling airborne fibers is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for the intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a facility that primarily used Chrysotile for the production of friction materials and the national death rate. The study found that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative effects than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole varieties are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed, a durable and flexible product is created that can withstand 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 is a grouping of fibrous silicates found in certain types rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They are present in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends called a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals can be found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder which are widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.
The heaviest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of 20th century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era, and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly because of inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and deterioration of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains in a variety of countries.
asbestos settlement can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches 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 waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by humans, such as by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant cause of disease among those exposed to asbestos during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can then enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too like contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle and
asbestos attorney therefore easier to breathe. They can also lodge deeper into lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos types.
The six major types of
Asbestos Attorney are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used forms of asbestos and make up 95% of commercial asbestos in use. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have proven an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer,
Asbestos Attorney has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoid all forms of asbestos is the best option because this is the most secure option for those who are exposed. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral that is composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, however certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six.