Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos naturally form bundles of pliable and thin fibres. They are resistant to fire, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They also have outstanding wear and tensile strength. Asbestos is used in many products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in 1980 Chrysotile (also called white asbestos) was the most frequently used form of the mineral. It was popular because it was fireproof, inexpensive and durable. However, it was found to be extremely harmful and was linked to mesothelioma and other illnesses. While some countries continue to use asbestos, a total worldwide ban is now required.
Health professionals continue to warn of the fact that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe. However despite this, companies who mine and sell chrysotile say that the asbestos they create is safer than earlier types of the mineral due to the fact that it is tightly packed and non-friable.
Although this type of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole
asbestos legal, it is still dangerous to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common type of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cancer cases around the world. Chrysotile which is a brownish golden mineral that is soft and appears like threads is a fibrous minerals. Through electron microscopy, the fibers appear to be tubes. They are actually a combination structural layers of the minerals formed into spirals.
Chrysotile has been shown to be a cause of a variety of illnesses that include pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer and respiratory issues of other kinds. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and digestive issues. Those who work with chrysotile, are particularly at risk for developing these ailments because they are frequently in contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile was previously extensively used in construction and automobile repair. It could be found in older homes and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is comprised of six different types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its particular chemical composition and characteristics and all six are associated with increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile (white asbestos) as well as crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.
Chrysotile is one of the most commonly used asbestos type in the United States. It is still present in the walls, roofs and floors of many buildings and homes. It is also used in automobile brake gaskets, linings, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile are shingles or cement sheets as well as pipe insulation.
Inhaling any form of asbestos is hazardous. Inhaling asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to asbestos, however it can also happen when working or handling the fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous when the Asbestos [
fpcom.Co.Kr] is friable which means they can break easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.
Friability is a function of length and the thickness of the fibers. Thicker and longer fibers are more likely than thinner and shorter ones to penetrate deep into the lungs.
The most popular method to expose workers to asbestos is by taking it off or handling asbestos. Asbestos is a fine, crystallized material that releases dust into the air when crushed or
asbestos sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept it could release small fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping motion could cause the fibres to break apart and vacuuming causes them to stick to surfaces.
Crocidolite
As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) the amphibole asbestos has long straight chain-like fibers that are more fragile and hazardous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most popular amphibole asbestos, but it is also found in other forms like anthophyllite and actinolite. These kinds of asbestos are found in natural deposits with the chrysotile. These other asbestos minerals may be contaminants in crocidolite and mixed with chrysotile to form a deposit.
Asbestos is used in a myriad of products including asbestos cement pipes and sheets as well as friction materials for car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres can be woven into paper, fabric, mastics, thread or joined with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine the most suitable application. The shortest fibres are generally employed in textiles, electrical insulation and filters, whereas the longer fibres are utilized in asbestos cement pipes, sheets and flooring.
Numerous studies have shown the connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The results of these studies vary however, and the conclusions are influenced by the limited literature on the subject. Generally speaking, the risk of cancer of the stomach appears to increase with increasing exposure to asbestos. However, the risk is lessened when the latency prior to the first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos have been linked in the development of mesothelioma which is a malignant tumor that affects the abdomen and chest (Mesothelioma). It has been observed that children exposed to asbestos are more at chance of developing mesothelioma, compared to adults. The reason for this is not known.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most frequent cancers caused by asbestos. It is caused by exposure to long-term asbestos and is generally more serious than other types of asbestos disease. It affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the stomach, heart, and bladder. It could also cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is comprised of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is widely employed in the construction industry and can be found in a variety of products.
Most people do not get sick from a low amount of asbestos in the air. The people who do fall ill are often exposed to asbestos regularly during a specific job and for a long amount of time. The heaviest exposures tend to be in jobs such as shipbuilding, mining, construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations helped to limit the use and prevalence of asbestos in buildings. It is still found in older household products, such as crayons and toys for kids.
All types of asbestos are carcinogenic. They can cause lung diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis as well as other illnesses. Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known kind of asbestos. Amphibole and Crocidolite are also types of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed they release microscopic fibres that become airborne and are inhaled. These fibres could get trapped within the lungs when breathed in.
asbestos compensation fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This could result in mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other conditions that take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chances of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking cigarettes and having an ancestor with the disease.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacture of insulation or in the construction of homes, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. Those fibers can then be inhaled or swallowed and
asbestos can cause serious health issues, such as mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is a lining that protects organs. Mesothelioma can be found in the tissues of the lungs and abdomen.