The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You can't tell if something contains asbestos simply by looking at it and you cannot smell or taste it. It is only discovered when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up for 99% of the asbestos created. It was used in many industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma or other
asbestos attorney-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a major concern the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. It has been found that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there isn't an danger to those working with it. The inhalation of airborne particles has been strongly associated with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.
One study that examined a facility that used nearly all chrysotile as its friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. It was found that, for 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure There was no significant additional mortality in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than fibrils with a longer length.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause illness than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos kinds have been the main cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand extreme weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a set of silicate mineral fibrous that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibres that range in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying ends called a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. These are commonly used in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.
Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to, and geographical location.
Most asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was caused by inhalation, however some workers were also exposed through skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only present in the natural weathering of mined ores and deterioration of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. 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 in ground and surface waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogeny, 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). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed to harmful fibres that can then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in a variety of ways, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile and therefore easier to inhale. They can also be lodged deeper inside lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other types of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most common asbestos types are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile. However, they could pose a threat when mixed with other
Asbestos Attorney minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, but the risks vary according to the amount of exposure that individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the method by the way that it is breathed in or ingested. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types is the best option since this is the most safe option for those who are exposed. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2.