The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and a host of other health problems.
You cannot tell if something is asbestos-containing simply by looking at it and you are unable to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detectable when the material containing it is broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was widely used in industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. It is still found in a variety of products we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an undue amount of risk based on the current limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a facility which used largely Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no signifi cant extra mortality in the factory.
Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They are able to penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibrils with a longer length.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools.
Research has revealed that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough, flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and then safely disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder that are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder, and baby powder.
The heaviest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds period of the 20th century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied by the industry, time frame and geographical location.
Most of the asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was caused by inhalation, however certain workers were exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only found in the environment due to natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that don't form the tightly knit fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in many ways, including through airborne particles. It can also be absorbed into soil or water. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by anthropogeny, such as by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos at work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lung which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can be triggered in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle which makes them more difficult to inhale. They can also be lodged deeper within lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six major types are chrysotile and amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are the most commonly used types of asbestos and account for 95% of commercial asbestos in use. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile however they could still be dangerous when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite.
Several studies have found an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, which is the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although 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 manner in the way that it is breathed in or ingested. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma condition, then you should see your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed 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 made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are common in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark and hard. Because of their similar hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some people to differentiate from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding Cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to determine their composition.
The five asbestos types in the amphibole class include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile, crocidolite, and actinolite. While the most commonly used form of asbestos is chrysotile; each has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish color and is composed mostly of iron and magnesium. lancaster asbestos law firm of stone was once used in cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example, cannot distinguish between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques also don't distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.