Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of asbestos are naturally formed as strings of pliable and durable fibres. They are resistant to fire, heat chemicals, electrical conductivity and chemical vapors. They possess a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos is used in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation paint, as well as fabric that is heat-resistant.

Chrysotile

Chrysotile also known as white asbestos, was the most common type of mineral used in a myriad of products prior to its ban in the 1980s. It was popular because it was fireproof, cheap and long-lasting. However, it was discovered to be extremely hazardous and associated with mesothelioma as well as other diseases. While some countries still use asbestos, a worldwide ban is now required.

Health care professionals are continuing to warn that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile are carcinogenic and no amount of exposure is safe. Companies who mine and sell asbestos claim that chrysotile's health is better than the older versions of the mineral because it's a tightly packed and non-friable.

While this form of asbestos is less dangerous than amphibole asbestos, it's still dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most frequently mined asbestos and the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases worldwide. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous mineral that appears like threads and feels supple to the touch. When examined with electron microscopy the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually a mixture of structural layers of minerals that are formed into spirals.

Chrysotile has been shown to cause a range of ailments such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer and respiratory issues of other kinds. It has also been linked to gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular diseases. These ailments are more common among those who work with chrysotile due to of their frequent exposure to it. Asbestos chrysotile used to be widely used in construction and auto repair. It may be present in older vehicles and homes.

Amosite

There are six types of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been used in asbestos. Each mineral has a different chemical composition and properties. However, all six are linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. These include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile and crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite (white asbestos), tremolite anthophyllite and tremolite.

Chrysotile is the most common asbestos-related type found in the United States. It can still be found in the roofs, walls and floors of a variety of buildings and homes. It was also used for gaskets, thermal insulation, and boiler seals in automobiles. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile include shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.

Inhaling asbestos in any form is dangerous. The exposure to any form of asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and other pleural diseases. Exposure to asbestos is most often caused by breathing, but it is also caused through handling or working with asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly hazardous if the materials are friable, which means they crumble easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.

Friability is a result of the length and the thickness of the fibers. Thicker and longer fibres will be more likely to penetrate deep into the lungs, whereas shorter and thinner fibres are less likely to do so.

The exposure to asbestos is most often when workers work with or remove it. This is due to asbestos being a very fine substance and can be released into the air as dust after it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept away or vacuumed, it can release small fibres in the air. This is because sweeping may cause fibres to break while vacuuming causes them stick to surfaces.

Crocidolite

In contrast to the serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) amphibole asbestos has long straight chain-like fibres, which are more fragile and hazardous when inhaled. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and crocidolite are the most common forms of amphibole. Other forms include actinolite or anthophyllite. These asbestos types are commonly found in natural deposits as well as chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that the other asbestos minerals are contaminants in crocidolite and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposit.

Asbestos is utilized in a myriad of products including asbestos cement sheets and pipes as well as friction materials for car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres can be weaved into fabrics, paper, mastics and threads or connected with Portland cement resins, plastics, or resins. The length and size of the fibres will determine their best application. The shorter fibres are usually employed in electrical insulation, textiles and filters. On the other hand, the longer fibres are used in asbestos cement sheets, pipes, flooring and sheets.

Numerous studies have proven an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. The findings of these studies differ however the conclusions are limited due to the lack of research on the subject. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase when the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the risk is diminished when the length of time in the time since first exposure is taken into account.

Other types of asbestos have been implicated in the formation of mesothelioma which is a malignant tumor that affects the abdomen and chest (Mesothelioma). It has been found that children exposed to asbestos are more at risk of developing mesothelioma than adults. The reason for this is not known.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is among the most frequently-assuaged cancers caused by asbestos. It is caused by asbestos exposure over a prolonged period of time and is more dangerous than any other asbestos-related disease. It affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the stomach, the heart and bladder. It is also a cause of mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

Asbestos consists of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It was extensively used in construction and can be found in many different products.

Most people don't become ill from low levels of asbestos in the air. People who do get sick are often exposed to asbestos regularly at a particular job and for a prolonged period of time. The most frequent jobs that require asbestos are shipbuilding, mining and construction. In recent years, federal regulations have helped limit the use and amount of asbestos in buildings. It is still present in older household products such as crayons and toys for kids.

All forms of asbestos could cause lung diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely recognized form of asbestos. Other types of asbestos are amphibole and crocidolite.

When asbestos-containing material is disturbed microscopically, tiny fibres are released into the air, and they can be inhaled. When inhaled, these fibers may become trapped deep inside the lung. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can result in mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as other conditions that take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family background of asbestos-related illnesses are other factors which increase your risk of developing.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used in the production of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. Those fibers can then be swallowed or inhaled and can cause serious health problems like mesothelioma.

The mesothelium, the lining that covers organs. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In certain cases it can also be found in the lining of the heart (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos sufferers are more likely to develop mesothelioma as result of their exposure at work. Mesothelioma can also be a problem for family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult diagnose because symptoms aren't specific and often mimic those of more common diseases. This is why mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and patients might not receive the treatment they need.

A visit to your doctor is the first step to diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will conduct your medical history in detail and inquire about any previous asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if your likelihood of developing the disease is greater.

Your doctor will determine the kind of mesothelioma in your body once a mesothelioma is diagnosed. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most commonly diagnosed type of this disease, accounts to around 80% of mesothelioma-related diagnoses every year. Other types include peritoneal as well as rare biphasic mesothelioma that contains epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cancer cells. Your doctor will decide the best treatment option for you according to the type of mesothelioma. Based on your location as well as the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from, treatment may increase your chances of surviving.