The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues.
It is not possible to tell by simply taking a look at something if it's made of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It is only found when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos produced. It was employed in a variety of industries like construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed to the toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. However, it is still present in trace amounts. remain in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile can be safely used with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an danger to the people working with the substance. The inhalation of airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure.
One study that looked into an industrial facility that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. It was concluded that over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure, there was no significant excess mortality in this factory.
Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause health effects than fibres with longer lengths.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals.
Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos like amosite or crocidolite is less likely than chrysotile in causing disease. These amphibole types have been the most common cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms an extremely durable and flexible building product that is able to withstand severe conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category of silicate mineral fibrous that are found naturally in specific types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals are also found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics.
The heaviest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of the 20th century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were airborne asbestos fibres, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to, and geographical location.
Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually because of inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed through contact with skin or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials like ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, and insulation.
It is becoming evident that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not have the tight woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.
Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in ground and surface water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibres is still the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos in the workplace.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed to harmful fibres that can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can also take place in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite, the asbestos that is blue is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and can get deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile, however they may pose a danger when mixed with other asbestos minerals, or when mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite.
Numerous studies have proven that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is not conclusive. edmond asbestos law firm have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills.
IARC The IARC, which is the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on how much exposure, what type of asbestos is involved and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all types of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.
Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to differentiate from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide variety of compositions. The various mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures.
Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are simple to breathe 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 products like cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.