Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos are naturally formed as bundles of thin and durable fibres. They are resistant to flames, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent tensile strength and wear. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of products, including flooring tiles, insulation paints and heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile, known as white asbestos was the most popular form of the mineral used in a myriad of products before it was banned in the 1980s. It was this because it was affordable, durable and fireproof. It was discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to cancers like mesothelioma. Certain countries continue to use asbestos, however a global prohibition is needed.
Health care professionals are continuing to warn that all types of asbestos, including chrysotile, can cause cancer and no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe. Companies who mine and sell
asbestos claim that chrysotile's health is better than the older forms of the mineral, because it's a tightly packed and non-friable.
This kind of asbestos is less dangerous than amphibole asbestos types, but it is still hazardous for people to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely used type of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cancer cases around the world. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous material that appears like threads and is soft to the touch. Under an electron microscope, the fibers look like tubes and are a result of structural layers of the mineral rolled in a spiral.
Chrysotile is known to cause numerous illnesses, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has also been linked to digestive issues and cardiovascular diseases. These illnesses are more prevalent among those who work with chrysotile because of their prolonged contact with it. Asbestos chrysotile was once widely used in construction and auto repair. It is found in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is composed of six different kinds of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has a different chemical composition and properties. However, all six are associated with a higher risk of mesothelioma. These include amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile, crocidolite (white
asbestos) amosite, Tremolite anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely used asbestos type in the United States. Numerous homes and businesses have it in their walls, roofs, and floors. It was also used as gaskets, thermal insulation, and boiler seals in automobiles. Other asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles, cement sheets, and pipe insulation.
Inhaling any form of asbestos is hazardous. Any exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and other lung diseases. Exposure to asbestos is typically caused by inhalation but it can also be triggered by handling or working with fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous if the materials are friable which means they break easily and are able to be blown into the air as dust particles.
Friability is correlated with the fibers' thickness and their length. Fibers that are longer and thinner are more likely than thinner and shorter ones to penetrate deeply into the lungs.
The exposure to asbestos happens most often when workers are handling or removing it. This is because asbestos is a fine material and can be released into the air as dust after it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept, it may release small fibres into the air. This is because sweeping may cause fibres to break while vacuuming causes them stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
Unlike the serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) the amphibole asbestos has long, straight chain-like fibers that are more brittle and dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most popular forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite or actinolite. These kinds of asbestos can be found in natural deposits that contain chrysotile. Other asbestos minerals could be contaminants in crocidolite, and mixed with chrysotile in the deposit.
Asbestos is utilized in a variety of items including asbestos cement pipes and sheets and friction materials used in car brakes, gaskets, and coatings. The fibres are woven into fabric, paper, thread, mastics or bonded with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine the best application. The shorter fibres are used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters, and flooring, while the longer ones are utilized for asbestos sheets, cement pipes, and flooring.
Numerous studies have found a link between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. These studies yield varied results however the conclusions are skewed due to the absence of literature. Generally speaking, the risk of cancer of the stomach appears to increase with increasing exposure to asbestos. The risk is lessened when the time period from the initial exposure is taken into account.
Other forms of asbestos have been implicated in the development of mesothelioma an aggressive cancer that affects the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). Children who have been exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reasons are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most frequent asbestos-related disease. It is caused by asbestos exposure for a long time, and is more serious than any other asbestos-related disease. It can affect the lungs, and
Asbestos Claim sometimes other organs like the stomach or the heart. It can also cause mesothelioma. an uncommon cancer that affects lungs lining.
Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It was widely used in the construction industry and is found in a myriad of products.
Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of airborne asbestos. Those who do become sick are usually exposed to asbestos regularly in a specific job, and for a long amount of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be those in positions like shipbuilding, mining as well as construction and insulation. In recent years, federal regulations have reduced
asbestos claim' use and it is now present in fewer buildings. Certain household items from the past like crayons and toys for children still contain asbestos.
All forms of asbestos could cause lung conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other diseases. Chrysotile is the most widely recognised form of asbestos. Crocidolite and Amphibole are both types of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing material is disturbed microscopically, tiny fibres are released into the air and could be inhaled. The fibres can become trapped within the lungs when breathed in. The asbestos fibres can then cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This could cause lung cancer mesothelioma and other diseases that may take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking cigarettes and having an ancestor with the condition.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used for insulation or in the construction and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibres are released into the air. These fibers are then consumed or swallowed, leading to serious health problems like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is the lining which covers organs. Mesothelioma is most often affecting the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In some instances, it may also develop on the linings of the heart or testicles.
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma because of exposure to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma also can affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because the symptoms aren't always specific and can mimic symptoms of more common diseases.