The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health issues.

You cannot tell if something includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you are unable to taste or smell it. It can only be found when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At the height of its use, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos production. It was employed in many industries which included construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos compensation-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. It is still present in a variety of products we use today.

Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current controlled exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed in terms of intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.

One study that looked into an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national mortality rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.

Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other forms of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than fibrils with a longer length.

When chrysotile is mixed with cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.

Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite, crocidolite, or crocidolite, 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 the cement and chrysotile are combined with cement, a tough, flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and then safely removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite which are widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.

Asbestos was used extensively in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to airborne asbestos fibres, but certain workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time period and geographical location.

Most asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were due to inhalation. However, certain workers were exposed by skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the air due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.

There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that don't form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily due to 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 dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is still the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos at work.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lung which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can also take place in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of exposure are more pronounced when crocidolite (the asbestos in the blue form, is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe and can be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other types of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos case are chrysotile amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite and actinolite. The most commonly used asbestos types are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be present in older structures. They are not as dangerous as chrysotile or amosite but can still pose a threat when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have revealed the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that abstaining from all asbestos forms is the most important thing to do since this is the most secure option for people. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a disease such as mesothelioma or other respiratory illnesses and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that can form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals but some also have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphibole minerals are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a similar design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for an array of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. While the most popular asbestos attorney type is chrysotile each type has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite ranges from brown to yellowish in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have complex chemical structures and many substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques do not differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.