The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
You can't tell if something is asbestos-containing simply by looking at it and you are unable to taste or smell it. It is only discovered when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was used by many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma was first becoming a problem, the use of
asbestos lawyer has decreased significantly. However, trace amounts can still be found in the products we use today.
Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been discovered that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers who handle it. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed for the intensity (dose) as in the time of exposure.
A study that looked at the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. The study found that, after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used in various parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile in causing disease. These amphibole types are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms an extremely durable and flexible building product that can withstand extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres are easily removed by a professional and safely removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates found in certain types rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibres that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to form vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.
The greatest use of asbestos was in the early two-thirds of the 20th century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace were in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to
asbestos Attorney-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry industry, era to and also from geographical location.
Most of the asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were caused by inhalation, however certain workers were exposed by skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only found in the air due to natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that do not have the tight weaved fibrils of serpentine and amphibole minerals,
asbestos attorney but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.
Asbestos can enter the environment in a variety of ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. 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 ground and surface waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it can also be caused anthropogenically, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping materials in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness for people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways, too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are more easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six major types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used types of asbestos. They comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos that is used. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are less harmful than chrysotile and amosite,
asbestos Attorney but they could pose a threat when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have shown the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, and others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in mines and chrysotile mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however, the risk is dependent on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but some exhibit an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from each other by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard.