The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Before it was banned,
asbestos law was used in a myriad of commercial products. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer and many other health issues.
You cannot tell by just taking a look at something if it's made of asbestos. Neither can you taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be detected when materials containing it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was widely used in industries including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to the toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it can still be found in products that we use today.
Chrysotile can be safely used in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the current controlled exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne fibres is strongly linked to lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
One study that looked into an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that, after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory.
Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause health effects than fibrils with a longer length.
It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres to be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.
Research has proven that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole types like these are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand harsh weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos refers to a set of silicate fibrous minerals that occur naturally in certain kinds of rock formations. It is classified into six groups: amphibole (serpentine), tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.
Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite, which have been widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.
Asbestos was used extensively in the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were in the air, however some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied according to the type of industry, the time period and geographic location.
Most of the occupational exposures to
asbestos were due to inhalation. However, some workers were also exposed by skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined ore and deterioration of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes, clutches, as well as floor and ceiling tiles.
There is evidence to suggest that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose, flexible, and needle-like. They can be found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it also leaches into soil and water. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in ground and surface waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However, it has also been caused anthropogenically, such as through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos during their job.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other illnesses can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibres can occur in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. The dangers of exposure are greater when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other form of asbestos.
The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. The most well-known asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are not as hazardous as chrysotile and amosite, but they can pose a risk when combined with other
asbestos attorney minerals or mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.
A number of studies have demonstrated an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.
IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, but the risks vary according to the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the manner in the way it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to avoid all forms of asbestos. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a condition such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory diseases and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their physician or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2.