The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
You can't tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it, and you won't be able to taste or smell it. It is only discovered when
Asbestos Attorney-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of the asbestos production. It was employed in a variety of industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use this toxic mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to increase in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it remain in many of the products we use today.
Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to a significant amount of risk at current limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed both in terms of intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used Chrysotile for the production of friction materials and the national death rate. The study found that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality in this factory.
Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative effects than fibrils with a longer length.
When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are widely used in various parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. These amphibole types are the primary 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. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in various types of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (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.
Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, however some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied by industry, time period, and geographic location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed via skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos.
Asbestos is only found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't woven like the fibrils found in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones of many countries.
Asbestos enters the environment mainly as airborne particles, but it also leaches into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as milling and mining demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs, causing serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to the fibres can be triggered in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The risks of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, the asbestos in the blue form, is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are easier to inhale and can lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos and make up 95% of the commercial asbestos that is used. The other four types of asbestos haven't been as popularly used, but they may still be found in older buildings. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile, but they can still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't conclusive. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 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, has classified all kinds of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best option for people is to avoid all forms of asbestos. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness, such as mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks.