Types of Asbestos
The six varieties of amorphous asbestos exist in nature as bundles of fine long, tough fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire chemicals, electrical conductivity and chemical vapors. They also have excellent tensile strength and wear. Asbestos is a component in many products including floor tiles, insulation paint, as well as heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile is also known as white asbestos, was the most common form of the mineral used in a myriad of products before it was banned in the 1980s. It was utilized because it was fireproof, inexpensive and durable. It was later discovered to be extremely harmful and connected to diseases like mesothelioma. Some countries still employ asbestos, but a worldwide prohibition is needed.
Health professionals continue to warn that all kinds of asbestos, including chrysotile can cause cancer and no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe. However, despite this, companies who mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they produce is safer than older types of the mineral since it is tightly packed and non-friable.
Although this type of Asbestos (
Shinhwapack.co.Kr) is less harmful than amphibole asbestos it is still a risk to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely used kind of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that is soft and
asbestos appears like threads is a fibrous rock. Through electron microscopy, the fibres appear more like tubes. They are actually a combination structural layers of minerals that are that are rolled into a spiral shape.
Chrysotile has been proven to be a cause of a variety of diseases which include pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer and other respiratory issues. It has also been linked to gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular disease. These illnesses are more prevalent among those who work with chrysotile due to of their frequent exposure to it. Those who work in construction and automobile repair are most likely to encounter Chrysotile asbestos as it was once very well-known. It is often found in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is composed of six different kinds of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has a different chemical composition and physical properties. However each of them is associated with a higher risk of mesothelioma. They include the serpentine and amphibole minerals Chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite, amosite and anthophyllite as well as tremolite.
Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos in the United States. It is still used in the walls, roofs and floors of a variety of commercial and residential properties. It was also used as gaskets, thermal insulation and boiler seals in automobiles. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile comprise shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos are dangerous if inhaled. The exposure to any form of asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and other pleural diseases. Exposure to asbestos is most typically caused by inhalation but it can also be triggered through the handling or work with fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous if the materials are friable which means they can break easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.
Friability is a function length and thickness of the fibers. Longer and thicker fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, whereas thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do this.
The most common way to expose workers to asbestos is through handling or removing asbestos. Asbestos is a fine, crystalline material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When
asbestos is vacuumed or swept it could release small fibres into the air. This is because sweeping could cause fibres to break when vacuuming them, whereas sweeping causes them to stick to surfaces.
Crocidolite
In contrast to the serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) amphibole asbestos has long straight chain-like fibres which are brittle and more hazardous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most commonly used amphibole asbestos. However, they it is also found in other forms such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos can be found in natural deposits that contain the chrysotile. Other asbestos minerals could be contaminants in crocidolite, and combined with chrysotile in the deposit.
Asbestos can be found in a variety products, including asbestos cement pipe, sheets, friction materials used for coatings, brakes, and gaskets. The fibres are weaved into paper, fabric, thread, mastics, or bound by Portland Cement, resins, or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine the most suitable application. The shorter fibres are typically employed in textiles, electrical insulation and filters. On the other hand, the longer fibres are used in asbestos cement sheets, pipes, and flooring.
A variety of studies have reported an association between exposure to asbestos and cancer of the stomach. The results of these studies differ, however, and the conclusions are influenced by the relatively sparse literature on the subject. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer increases when the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the impact is diminished when consideration of latency since first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos are implicated in the development mesothelioma (a malignant cancer that affects the abdominal lining and chest). Children who have been exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reasons for this are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common ailments caused by asbestos. It can be caused by exposure to asbestos, and is usually more serious than other types of asbestos-related disease. It can affect the lungs and sometimes other organs like the stomach or heart. It can also cause mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung.
Asbestos is a class of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It was extensively used in construction and is found in a myriad of products.
Most people do not get ill from low levels of asbestos in the air. Those who do become sick are often exposed to asbestos regularly during a specific job and for a prolonged period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be in jobs like shipbuilding, mining construction, and insulation. In recent years, federal regulations helped to limit the use and prevalence of asbestos in construction sites. Some household products from the past, such as crayons and toys for children still contain asbestos.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis as well as other diseases. Chrysotile is the most well-known type of asbestos. Crocidolite and Amphibole are both kinds of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air and could be inhaled. These fibres may get caught in the lungs after inhalation. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can result in lung cancer mesothelioma and other illnesses that can take years to develop. Other factors that increase the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking cigarettes and having a family history of the disease.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacturing of insulation or in the construction of homes, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are then swallowed or inhaled and can cause serious health problems like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that is found in the organ's lining, called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is typically found in the tissues of the lungs and abdomen.