The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to studies, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and many other health problems.

It is difficult to tell by looking at something if it's made of asbestos lawsuit. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be identified when the material containing it is broken, drilled, or chipped.

Chrysotile

At the height of its use, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos production. It was used in many industries including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use this dangerous mineral has decreased dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. It is still present in many of the products we use in the present.

Chrysotile can be safely used with a well-thought-out safety and handling plan is in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at current controlled exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.

In one study, mortality rates were compared among a factory which used largely chlorosotile to make friction materials and the national death rate. It was concluded that for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at low levels of exposure, there was no significant additional mortality in this factory.

In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can enter the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer.

When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are used in many parts of the world, including schools and hospitals.

Research has shown that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is not as likely to cause disease. Amphibole types like these are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix and cured, a tough product is produced that can withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates found in various types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole as well as tremolite, anthophyllite, asbestos and crocidolite (IARC 1973).

Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that range in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends called a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals in order to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used as consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics and face powder.

The most extensive use of asbestos occurred in the early two-thirds of the 20th century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era, and geographical location.

Exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly because of inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through skin contact or through eating foods contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined ore and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles.

It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that do not have the tight woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones from a variety of nations.

Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into soil and water. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination in surface and ground waters is primarily due to natural weathering. However it is also caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary cause of illness in people who are exposed to it during their job.

Crocidolite

Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can then be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can also take place in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite (the asbestos' blue form, is involved. Crocidolite is smaller and more fragile fibers that are easy to breathe in and may lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other form of asbestos.

The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are the most commonly used types of asbestos, and asbestos comprise 95 percent of all commercial asbestos in use. The other four types haven't been as extensively used however they can be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile, but they can still be a risk when combined with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.

Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved, and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the top priority since this is the best option for individuals. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness, such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory illnesses it is recommended that they seek advice from their physician or NHS 111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated one another by octahedral sites in strips.

Amphibole minerals are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark-colored and tough. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they could be difficult for some people to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also share a similar design of cleavage. However their chemistry allows an array of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

Amphibole asbestos consists of chrysotile, and the five types of asbestos amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite), and amosite. While the most frequently used asbestos type is chrysotile each type has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in cement and insulation materials.

Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized techniques. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these methods are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.