Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of amorphous asbestos are found in nature as bundles of thin long, tough fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire chemical and electrical conductivity. They possess a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of products such as floor tiles, insulation, paints and heat-resistant fabric.

Chrysotile

Chrysotile is also known as white asbestos was the most commonly used form of the mineral that was used in thousands of different products prior to its ban in the 1980s. This was due to the fact that it was cheap, durable and fireproof. It was found to be extremely harmful and linked to diseases like mesothelioma. Certain countries continue to use Asbestos Law, but a worldwide prohibition is needed.

Health care professionals continue to warn of the fact that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, can cause cancer and no amount of exposure is safe. However despite this, companies who mine and sell chrysotile assert that the asbestos they produce is more secure than older varieties of the mineral because it is tightly packed and unfriable.

Although this type of asbestos is less harmful than amphibole asbestos but it is still extremely dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most frequently mined asbestos, and it is the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases around the world. Chrysotile which is a brownish golden mineral that feels soft and looks like threads is a fibrous rock. In an electron microscope, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually a combination structural layers of the minerals rolled into spiral form.

Chrysotile has been shown to be the cause of many illnesses that include pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer and other respiratory issues. It has also been linked with gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular disease. These conditions are more prevalent among those who work with chrysotile as a result of their prolonged contact with it. Asbestos was once widely used in construction and auto repair. It may be present in older houses and vehicles.

Amosite

Asbest is made from six different types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and physical properties. However each of them is associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite. They also include amosite, asbestos law anthophyllite, and tremolite.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most common asbestos type in the United States. It is still present in the roofs, walls and floors of many buildings and homes. It is also used in automobile brake gaskets, linings for boilers, gaskets and seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile include shingles, cement sheet and pipe insulation.

All types of asbestos can be dangerous when inhaled. Inhaling any form of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other pleural diseases. The exposure to asbestos claim is most commonly caused by inhalation, however, it can also be caused through the handling or work with fibres. Exposure to asbestos is especially dangerous if materials are friable. This means they are susceptible to crumbling easily and become airborne dust particles.

Friability is determined by the thickness of the fibres and their length. The longer and longer fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, whereas thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do this.

The exposure to asbestos is most often when workers remove or handle it. Asbestos is a fine crystalline material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept it may release tiny fibres into the air. This is because sweeping can cause fibres to break while vacuuming causes them stick to surfaces.

Crocidolite

As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), the amphibole asbestos is composed of long, straight chain-like fibres which are more brittle and dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) as well as amosite (brown asbestos) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most common amphibole asbestos, but it is also found in other forms like anthophyllite and actinolite. These asbestos types are usually found in natural deposits alongside chrysotile asbestos. Other asbestos minerals could be contaminants in crocidolite and mixed with chrysotile to form a deposit.

Asbestos is used in a myriad of products including asbestos cement pipe and sheets and friction materials used in car brakes, gaskets, and coatings. The fibres are weaved into fabric, paper, mastics, thread, or bound by Portland Cement, resins, or plastics. The length and the size of the fibres will determine the most suitable application. The shortest fibres are generally employed in electrical insulation, textiles and filters, whereas the longer fibres are utilized in asbestos cement sheets, pipes and flooring.

Numerous studies have shown an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. These studies yield varied results however the conclusions aren't as conclusive because of the absence of evidence. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer is likely to increase when the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effects are reduced when the time prior to the first exposure is taken into account.

Other forms of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant tumour affecting the abdomen's lining as well as the chest). Children exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reasons are unknown.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most prevalent asbestos-related disease. It can be caused by exposure to asbestos and is typically more severe than other forms of asbestos disease. It affects the lungs, and sometimes other organs like the heart, stomach and bladder. It may also cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs.

Asbestos is composed of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It can be found in many different products and was widely used in construction, but has now been banned because of its negative effects.

Most people are not affected by low levels of asbestos in the air. However, those that do get sick are usually exposed on a regular basis to asbestos in a specific work and typically for a prolonged period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be found in occupations like shipbuilding, mining, construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations have helped limit the use of asbestos, and it is now used in fewer structures. Certain household items from the past, such as crayons and asbestos law toys for children still contain asbestos.

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. They can cause lung diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised form of asbestos. Crocidolite and amphibole are also forms of asbestos.

When asbestos-containing material is disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air, and they can be inhaled. These fibres may get caught inside the lungs if inhaled. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can lead to mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as other illnesses that may take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking cigarettes and having an ancestor with the condition.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used in the production of insulation or in the construction of homes and buildings, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. Those fibers can then be taken in by swallowing or inhalation and can cause serious health issues, such as mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma can be described as a cancer that occurs in the organ's lining called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma tends to be found in the lung linings and the abdomen. In some instances it can also occur in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos sufferers are more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure at work. However, family members of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. It can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma because the symptoms are not specific and often resemble those of other diseases. Mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed, and victims may not get the treatment they need.

A mesothelioma diagnosis starts with an appointment with your doctor. The doctor will inquire about your medical background including any asbestos exposure. This will help them determine if you're at an increased risk of contracting disease.

Your doctor will determine what type of mesothelioma you have once a mesothelioma is diagnosed. Pleural mesothelioma (the most common type of this disease, accounts for around 80 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses each year. The other two types are peritoneal mesothelioma and a rare biphasic variant of mesothelioma that contains epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cells. Your doctor will decide the best course of action for you according to the type of mesothelioma. Treatment may increase your chance of survival, based on the nature and location of your mesothelioma.