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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. According research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health issues. It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it is made up of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It can only be found in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile provided for 99% of the asbestos made. It was widely used in industries such as construction, fireproofing, and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use this hazardous mineral has declined drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to grow in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it remain in 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. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at the present controlled exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne particles is strongly linked to lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been confirmed both for 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 production of friction materials and national death rates. It was found that for the 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at low levels of exposure There was no significant excess mortality in this factory. Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues over longer fibres. When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risk. The fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals. Research has revealed that chrysotile has a lower chance to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos forms have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it creates a strong, flexible building product that can withstand extreme weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole as well as tremolite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite (IARC, 1973). Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibers that range in length, ranging from very fine to broad and straight to curled. They are found in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder. Asbestos was widely used during the first two thirds of the 20th century to construct shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were airborne asbestos fibres, but some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era era and also from geographical location. The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to the natural weathering of mined minerals and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles. There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight interwoven fibrils that are found in the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres can be found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones from a variety of nations. Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety of ways, including as airborne particles. It can also leach out into soil or water. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rock) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is largely associated with natural weathering, but has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs and cause serious health problems. canton asbestos lawyer includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to fibers can occur in different ways too including contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. This type of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle making them more palatable to breathe. They also can get deeper inside lung tissues. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as chrysotile or amosite but can still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite. Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However, the evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others report an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mills and mines. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although the risks are different based on the amount of exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used, the duration of their exposure and the method by which it is breathed in or ingested. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all forms of asbestos. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma then you should see your physician or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals which can form prism-like and needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si,Al)O4 tetrahedrons that are linked in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral site. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from the pyroxenes. They also have a comparable cut. Their chemistry allows for a variety of compositions. The different amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite), and amosite. While the most frequently used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety has its own unique characteristics. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are simple to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.