The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned, asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues.
It is impossible to tell just by taking a look at something if it is made up of asbestos. You cannot taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be identified when the substances that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99% of the asbestos that was produced. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed to this harmful material, they could develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became a problem, the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. However, trace amounts of it remain in the products we use in the present.
Chrysotile can be safely used when a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current limit of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are all linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. The study found that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They are able to penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than fibres with longer lengths.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is extremely difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are utilized in many areas of the world, including schools and hospitals.
Research has proven that amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. These amphibole forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible product is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional, and then removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is one of the groups of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is divided into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. They are present 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 talcum powder and vermiculite that are widely used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and baby powder.
Asbestos was widely used during the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships as well as insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were airborne asbestos fibres, but some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographic location.
Most of the occupational exposures to asbestos were caused by inhalation, however certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only found in the environment because of natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches, and insulation.
It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibres don't form the tightly knit fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. They can be found in the cliffs, mountains and sandstones of many countries.
Asbestos may enter the environment in a variety ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It is also able to leach into soil or water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering, however it has also been caused by human activities such as mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lungs, causing serious health problems. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in different ways too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used forms of asbestos, and comprise 95% of the commercial asbestos that is used. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile, but they may pose a danger when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't conclusive. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, while others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although the risks differ based on the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved as well as the length of their exposure and the way in which it is breathed in or ingested. IARC has declared that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma or other respiratory conditions, they should seek guidance from their physician or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They typically have a monoclinic crystal system however, some have 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 which are connected in rings of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral site.
Amphiboles are present in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark-colored and tough. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar cut. However, their chemistry allows for a wide range of compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
The five asbestos types in the amphibole family include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. While thousand oaks asbestos lawsuit is chrysotile; each has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is the most hazardous asbestos type. It is made up of sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish color and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials.
Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have a a complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, they cannot distinguish between magnesiohastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Furthermore, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.