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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues. You can't tell if something contains asbestos simply by looking at it and you won't be able to taste or smell it. It can only be found when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken. newport news asbestos lawsuit At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 90% of the asbestos that was produced. It was employed in a variety of industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a major concern, the use of asbestos has been reduced significantly. It is still found in many products we use in the present. Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that you have a complete safety and handling plan in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at current controlled exposure levels. The inhalation of airborne particles has been linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) 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 the national death rate. It was discovered that, for 40 years of preparing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory. As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues than fibres with longer lengths. It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools. Research has proven that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole asbestos types have been the most common cause 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 withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that naturally occur in certain kinds 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 from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils or bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to form vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products, like baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder. The largest asbestos use occurred during the early two-thirds of the 20th century, when it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres were in the air, but some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to industry, time period and geographic location. Most asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed through contact with skin or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos can be found in the environment due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products, such as ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, as well as insulation. There is emerging evidence that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries. Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance by the milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the primary cause of illness in people exposed to it in their occupation. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle and therefore easier to breathe in. They can also get deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other form of asbestos. The six main types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four forms haven't been as popularly used however they can be present in older buildings. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a danger when mixed with other minerals, or when mined close to other mineral deposits like vermiculite and talc. Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others report an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mills and mines. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma however, the risk is dependent on the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness, such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory diseases, they should seek guidance from their doctor or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals 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. The tetrahedrons can be separated from one another by octahedral sites in strips. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Because of their similar hardness and color, they may be difficult for some people to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage. However their chemistry permits an array of compositions. The various amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures. The five types of asbestos belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. While the most commonly used form of asbestos is chrysotile; each has its own distinct characteristics. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lungs. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of iron and magnesium. This kind of material was used to create cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals can be difficult to analyze because they have complex chemical structures and many substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole mineral requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also cannot distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.