Asbestos Attorney 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier

The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

It is difficult to tell by looking at something if it's made of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It is only discovered 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, including construction, fireproofing, and insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to this harmful material, they could contract mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a major concern the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. It is still present in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. It has been proven that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers working with it. The inhalation of airborne particles has been linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for the intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.

One study that examined the operation of a factory that utilized almost all chrysotile as its friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national death rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.

Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause ill-health consequences than longer fibres.

When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used across the globe particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.

Studies have shown that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos kinds have been the main source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos legal-related illnesses. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough 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 dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates found in various types of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).

Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibres that range in length from extremely thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create talcum powder or vermiculite. These are commonly used in consumer products, like baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.

Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographical location.

Most of the asbestos exposures at work were due to inhalation, but certain workers were exposed through contact with skin or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is currently only found in the the natural weathering of mined ore and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.

There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in serpentine and amphibole, but are instead loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibres can be found in the mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of many countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused anthropogenically, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres remains the main cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed to the harmful fibres that can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health problems. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be experienced in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos claim - http://heungil.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=1995696, form) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are more easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other form of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile however they could still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have revealed an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. The evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.

IARC, asbestos claim the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risk is different based on how much exposure, what type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the top priority since this is the most secure option for those who are exposed. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma condition, then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are groups of minerals that may create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal system, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral site.

Amphibole minerals can be found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark-colored and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they may be difficult for some to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also have a similar Cleavage. However their chemistry permits an array of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile. Each variety is unique in its own way. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that are easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and asbestos claim magnesium. This type of stone was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. The most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.