Types of Asbestos
All six types of asbestos naturally form bundles of durable and thin fibres. They are able to withstand chemical, heat, fire and electrical conductivity. They have a high tensile strength and wear strength. Asbestos can be found in a wide range of products including floor tiles, insulation, paints and heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in 1980 Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most commonly used form of the mineral. It was utilized because it was fireproof, inexpensive and long-lasting. However, it was discovered to be extremely hazardous and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other illnesses. Some countries still use asbestos, but a global ban is needed.
Health care professionals continue to warn people that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. Companies who mine and sell asbestos claim that chrysotile is safer than older forms of the mineral because it's tightly packaged and non-friable.
This kind of asbestos is less harmful than the amphibole varieties of
asbestos however, it is hazardous for workers to work with. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common kind of asbestos mined and is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer cases across the world. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous mineral which appears like threads and feels soft to the touch. When examined with electron microscopy the fibres appear more like tubes. They are actually composed of structural layers of minerals rolled into spiral form.
Chrysotile is known to trigger many illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has also been linked with gastrointestinal problems and cardiovascular disease. These diseases are more common among those who work with chrysotile because of their long-term exposure to it. Asbestos chrysotile used to be extensively used in construction and auto repair. It may be present in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six types of naturally occurring silicate fibrous minerals that have been used as
asbestos attorney. Each mineral has its particular chemical composition and characteristics, but all six are linked to increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals Chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite. They also include amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known asbestos type in the United States. Many homes and businesses still have it in their walls, roofs, and floors. It is also used in brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals and thermal insulation. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile comprise shingles, cement sheet and pipe insulation.
All types of asbestos are harmful when inhaled. Inhaling any form of asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other disorders of the pleura. Exposure to asbestos is typically caused by inhalation but it is also caused by handling or working with asbestos fibres. The risk of exposure is particularly high when the fibres are friable which means they break easily and are able to be blown into the air as dust particles.
Friability is related to the fibers' thickness and their length. Fibers that are longer and thinner are more likely than shorter and shorter ones to penetrate deep into the lungs.
Exposure to asbestos occurs most often when workers are handling or removing it. Asbestos is a fine crystallized material that releases dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed it can release tiny fibres into the air. This is because sweeping can cause fibres to break up while vacuuming causes them stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), the amphibole asbestos has long, straight chain-like fibres that are more brittle and dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other types include anthophyllite, actinolite and. These types of asbestos are usually found in natural deposits along with chrysotile asbestos. These other asbestos minerals may be contaminants in crocidolite mixed with chrysotile to form a deposit.
Asbestos is utilized in a variety of items including asbestos cement sheets and pipes, friction materials for car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres can be weaved into fabrics, paper, mastics and thread or joined with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The size and length of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres can be utilized for electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while longer fibres are used for asbestos cement pipes, sheets and flooring.
A number of studies have reported an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. These studies have produced varied results, but the conclusions are limited due to the lack of evidence. In general, the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the risk is diminished when the length of time from the first exposure is taken into account.
Other forms of asbestos can be implicated in the development of mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the lining of the abdomen and chest). Children who have been exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reasons are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most well-known asbestos-related illness. It is caused by long-term exposure to asbestos and is more severe than other forms of asbestos-related diseases. It affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the stomach, heart, and bladder. It could also cause mesothelioma which is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It can be found in a variety of different products and was extensively used in construction, however, it has been withdrawn due to its harmful effects.
Most people do not get sick from a low amount of asbestos in the air. Those who do become sick are often exposed to asbestos on a regular basis in a specific occupation and over a long period of time. The most common jobs that require asbestos are shipbuilding, mining and construction. In recent years, regulations from the government helped to limit the use and prevalence of asbestos in buildings. It is still in some older household products like children's toys and crayons.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised type of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing material is disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air and can be inhaled. When inhaled, these fibres can become trapped deep within the lungs. The asbestos fibres can then cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This can result in lung carcinoma mesothelioma as well as other conditions that can take years to develop. Other factors that increase the likelihood of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking and having a family history of the disease.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used to manufacture insulation or to construct and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers can be inhaled or swallowed and can trigger serious health problems like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that occurs in the organ's lining, called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma tends to be found in the lung linings and the abdomen. In some cases, it can also develop in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).