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 by just looking at something whether it contains asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when materials containing it are broken or drilled.
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At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos created. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a concern, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. However, traces of it remain in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. It has been proven that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers who handle it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory which used almost exclusively chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. It was found that, for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure, there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They are able to penetrate the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.
When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are widely used in various parts of the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that amphibole asbestos like amosite, crocidolite, or crocidolite, is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole forms have been the primary source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined 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 after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicate minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibres that range 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 a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite which are widely used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
The most extensive use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century in the period when it was employed in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres occurred in the air, however some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to and geographic location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the natural weathering of mined ores and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
It is becoming evident that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. They can be found in the mountains, sandstones and cliffs of many countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in ground and surface water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by anthropogeny, such as through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the main reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos in their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed harmful fibres, which could then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can be triggered in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile, making them easier to breathe. They also can get deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used forms of asbestos. They comprise 95% of commercial asbestos in use. The other four have not been as widely used however they can be found in older buildings. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile, but they can still be a risk when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.
Numerous studies have shown the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos 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 asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, which is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all forms of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure, what kind 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 types of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma condition, then you should consult your GP or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals that may form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure however, some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated by octahedral strips.
Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they may be difficult for some people to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The various amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each kind of asbestos has its own distinct properties. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It is made up of sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also don't distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.