The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to studies, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health issues.
It is not possible to tell by simply looking at something if it is made of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. It is only visible when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries, including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a major concern, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. However, trace amounts of it are still found in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling plan in place. It has been proven that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there is no unneeded risk to the people handling it. Inhaling airborne fibers has been found to be strongly linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven for intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory that used a large proportion of chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. It was discovered that, for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They can penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to causing health consequences than longer fibres.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used across the globe particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed and cured, a tough, flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also very easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and then safely disposed of.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from extremely fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals in order to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, and even face powder.
The greatest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of twentieth century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to airborne asbestos fibres, but some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of
asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame, and geographic location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed via skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only found in the environment because of natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials like ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches as well as insulation.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not form the tightly weaved fibrils of amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers are found in the cliffs and
asbestos mountains of several countries.
Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in many ways, including as airborne particles. It can also be released into water or soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly a result of natural weathering, however it has also been caused by human activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibres is the most common cause of illness among people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos -
web011.dmonster.kr - fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways, too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile making them more palatable to inhale. They can also lodge deeper into lung tissues. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six primary types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most common asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as widespread, but they can still be present in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as chrysotile or amosite but can still be a danger when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for
asbestos all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They are 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 composed of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. The tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral site.
Amphiboles are found in both igneous and metamorphic rock.