The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was still used in a variety of commercial products. According to studies, exposure to asbestos lawyer can cause cancer, as well as other health problems.
You cannot tell by just looking at something if it is made of asbestos attorney. Also, you cannot taste or smell it. It is only visible when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos that was produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries such as construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to spread in the 1960’s. However, trace amounts are still found in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren’t exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk based on the current controlled exposure levels. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
In one study, mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used almost exclusively chlorosotile to make friction materials and the national death rate. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality in this factory.
Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos case. They are able to enter the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, like amosite or crocidolite is not as likely to cause diseases. These amphibole types are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong and flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibres that range in length, ranging from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder.
Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era and even geographical location.
Most of the asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were due to inhalation, but some workers were also exposed via skin contact or asbestos through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only found in the air due to natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.
It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in serpentine and amphibole, they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of many countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily as airborne particles, but it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, however it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the main cause of illness among people who are exposed to it during their work.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed dangerous fibres, which can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in different ways too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are more easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most popular forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren’t as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, however they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have shown an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others report an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in mines and chrysotile mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos can cause mesothelioma or other health issues, however the risks vary according to the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos used and the duration of their exposure and the way in which it is inhaled or ingested. IARC has declared that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all types of asbestos. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos litigation in the past and suffer from a condition such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory diseases, they should seek guidance from their physician or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are groups of minerals that can form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, however some exhibit 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. The tetrahedrons are separated one another with octahedral strips.
Amphiboles occur in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding design of cleavage. However their chemistry permits many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.
Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite, asbestos anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each type of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos kind. It has sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. The variety was used previously in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze due to their a complicated chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. The most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can’t distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.