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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 problems.

It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it's made of asbestos. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. It is only found when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 99% of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use this toxic mineral has decreased drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to increase in the 1960's. It is still found in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been determined that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no unneeded risk to the people who handle it. The inhalation of airborne particles is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.

One study that examined a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials, compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. It was discovered that, for 40 years of preparing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.

When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products have been extensively used throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has proven that amphibole Carlisle Asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and 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 is a grouping of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be straight or curled. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals in order to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used as consumer products, Carlisle Asbestos such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.

The heaviest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, when it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-containing exposures to the workplace occurred in the air, however some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by industry, time and geographic location.

Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mainly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed via skin contact or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos can only be found in the environment 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 growing evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils that are found in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs from a variety of nations.

Asbestos is able to enter the environment in many ways, such as in airborne particles. It can also leach out into water or soil. This occurs both from 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 ground and surface water is typically a result of natural weathering, but it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of lemon grove asbestos attorney-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos in their job.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent way people are exposed to the harmful fibres. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways as well, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile making them more palatable to inhale. They can also lodge deeper into lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most commonly used types of asbestos and account for 95% of the commercial asbestos that is used. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than chrysotile or carlisle asbestos amosite but can still be dangerous when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, the evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.

IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however the risks differ based on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the highest priority since this is the most secure option for people. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a condition such as mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses it is recommended that they seek advice from their doctor or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They usually possess a monoclinic crystal system however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons can be separated by octahedral strips.

Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark-colored and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they may be difficult for some people to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also have a comparable cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The different mineral groups within amphibole 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. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety is unique in its own way. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products such as cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are difficult to study because of their an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special techniques. The most popular methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods can only give approximate identifications. For instance, they can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.