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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

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

It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it contains asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. It can only be found when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos produced. It was employed in a variety of industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers were exposed to this harmful material, they could contract mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this harmful mineral has diminished significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to increase in the 1960's. However, traces of it are still present in products that we use today.

Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used almost exclusively Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.

Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer.

When chrysotile mixes with cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause disease. These amphibole varieties are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable product is produced that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also simple to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and safely eliminated.

Amosite

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

Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that range in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying edges called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals in order to create talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used as consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, and even face powder.

The heaviest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds of the 20th century when it was utilized in insulation, asbestos settlement shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but certain workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era to and geographic 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 through eating contaminated food. asbestos settlement (http://tujuan.grogol.Us) is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.

It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that are not the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.

Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed 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 has also been caused by human activity, for instance by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping materials in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the main cause of disease among those exposed to it in their occupation.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in a variety of ways, such as contact with contaminated clothing or materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper inside lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. The most popular asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four types haven't been as widely used however, they could be found in older buildings. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile. However, they may pose a danger when combined with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc.

Numerous studies have shown the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, asbestos settlement the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos compensation workers. However, others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for workers in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that avoiding all forms of asbestos should be the top priority as it is the most safe option for individuals. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses it is recommended that they seek advice from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are groups of minerals that can create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphiboles are present in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them.

Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five asbestos types amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has its own unique properties. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It contains sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite ranges from brown to yellowish in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze due to their an intricate chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. The most popular methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.