The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.

It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it's made of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It can only be found when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 95% of the asbestos produced. It was widely used in industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma became an issue the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still present in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that you have a complete safety and handling program in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to a significant amount of risk at the present limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed in terms of intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure.

In one study mortality rates were compared between a facility which used almost exclusively chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.

Chrysotile fibres are typically shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer.

When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to be airborne and pose health risks. The fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.

Research has proven that amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. Amphibole types like these are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed and cured, a tough and flexible material is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicate minerals that occur naturally in certain kinds of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973).

Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibers that range in length from very fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying edges called a fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder.

Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and various other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were airborne asbestos fibres, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite or talc that was contaminated, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time and geographic location.

Most occupational exposures to gypsum asbestos were because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed by skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos can be found in the air due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials, such as ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that don't form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of a variety of countries.

Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it can also be caused by human activity, for instance by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping materials 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 job.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can enter the lung, causing serious health problems. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways as well, such as contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, a blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also lodge deeper inside lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other form of asbestos.

The six major types are chrysotile and amosite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four types of atlantic beach asbestos haven't been as widely utilized however they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than chrysotile or amosite but can still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc.

Numerous studies have revealed the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.

IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma or other health issues, although the risks vary according to the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved as well as the duration of exposure and the method by the way it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the top priority because this is the safest option for people. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases it is recommended that they seek advice from their GP or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal system however, some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark and hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also have a similar cut. Their chemistry allows for a range of compositions. The various minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five asbestos types: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. While the most frequently used form of asbestos is chrysotile, each variety is unique in its own way. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and Vimeo magnesium. The variety was used previously in cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are difficult to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole mineral requires specialized methods. The most widely used methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and Vimeo XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These methods, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.