The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned asbestos was still used in a variety of commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.
It is impossible to determine if a product contains asbestos by looking at it, and you can't smell or taste it. It can only be found when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was used in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a problem the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still found in many products we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been found that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no unneeded risk to the people handling it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure.
One study that studied an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. It was found that for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure there was no signifi cant extra mortality in the factory.
In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to causing health consequences than longer fibres.
It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause illness than amphibole
asbestos case, such as crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the main cause of mesothelioma and other
asbestos case-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong and flexible material is created which is able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and then safely eliminated.
Amosite
Asbestos is a category 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 are composed of long, thin fibers that vary in length, ranging from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used in consumer products such as baby powder cosmetics, and face powder.
The largest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds period of the 20th century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air,
Asbestos but some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time period and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However, some workers have been exposed through contact with skin or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.
There is growing evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibres do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.
Asbestos enters the environment mainly as airborne particles, but it also leaches into water and soil. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and ananthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing materials in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it is also caused by humans, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001).
Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the main cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in their occupation.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lungs which can cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways, too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The dangers of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, the asbestos in the blue form is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle making them more palatable to inhale. They can also lodge deeper within lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other types of asbestos.
The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used forms of asbestos, and comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos that is used. The other four forms haven't been as widely utilized however they can be present in older buildings. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile, however they can pose a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc.
A number of studies have demonstrated an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, which is the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all kinds of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, but the risk is different based on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoid all forms of asbestos is the best option since this is the most safe option for those who are exposed. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory disorder or mesothelioma, you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral made up of two chains of molecules of SiO4. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure 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.