The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. According research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health problems.
You cannot tell if something contains asbestos simply by looking at it and you cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detected when the materials that contain it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for the majority of asbestos production. It was used by many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use this dangerous mineral has decreased dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to increase in the 1960's. It is still found in a variety of products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present limit of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been strongly linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.
One study that studied an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials compared mortality rates at this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.
In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them more prone to cause negative effects than longer fibres.
When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risk. Fibre cement products are widely utilized in many areas of the world, including schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos like amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms a strong, flexible building product that can withstand the most extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals are also found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder which are widely used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
The largest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century in the period when it was employed in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres borne by air, but certain workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). district of columbia asbestos attorneys varied from industry to industry, era to, and geographical location.
The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the air due to natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.
It is becoming apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't weaved like the fibrils in amphibole and serpentine they are loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibres are found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily due to 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 waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness for people exposed to it occupationally.
Crocidolite
Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent way people are exposed to harmful fibres that can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in a variety of ways including contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The risks of exposure are greater when crocidolite (the asbestos in the blue form, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile making them more palatable to inhale. They can also lodge deeper within 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 as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most popular asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as common, but may still be present in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all forms of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos is the best option since this is the most secure option for people. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness, such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory conditions, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a collection of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral made up of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure however, 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 by tetrahedron rings made of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from each other with octahedral strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. However their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to identify them.
Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five types of asbestos amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each kind of asbestos has its own distinct properties. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This type of stone was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are challenging to study because of their complex chemical structures and many substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. The most popular methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For example, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. These techniques do not differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.