The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You cannot tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it and you are unable to taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when the material containing it is broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made the majority of the asbestos produced. It was employed in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem asbestos use has been drastically reduced. However, traces of it remain in common products that we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an undue amount of risk at the present safe exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne particles has been strongly associated with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed for the intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.
One study that examined an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. The study found that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products are extensively utilized in many areas of the world, including schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other
asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined together, a strong and flexible material is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates that are found in a variety of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite that are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.
The greatest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds of twentieth century in the period when it was employed 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 vermiculite or talc that was contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time and geographic location.
The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly caused by inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the air due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight woven fibrils of the amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs from a variety of nations.
Asbestos is able to enter the environment in a variety ways, such as in airborne particles. It is also able to leach into soil or water. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused anthropogenically, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness in people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Exposure to
asbestos compensation through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to fibers can occur in different ways too, such as contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers that are easier to breathe in and can get deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.
The main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. Chrysotile and amosite are the most frequently used types of asbestos. They comprise 95% of the asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four have not been as popularly used but they can be found in older buildings. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile, however they may pose a danger when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have proven an association between stomach cancer and
asbestos attorney exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and
asbestos mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all kinds of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risks vary depending on how much exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types is the most important thing to do since this is the best option for those who are exposed. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma or other respiratory conditions, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They are a monoclinic system of crystals, however some exhibit an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral site.