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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues. It is impossible to determine if a product includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you won't be able to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detected when the materials that contain it are broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile provided for 99% of the asbestos produced. It was employed in a variety of industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem the use of asbestos has decreased significantly. It is still present in many of the products we use today. Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present controlled exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used largely Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. It was found that over the course of 40 years, processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure, there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory. Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than longer fibres. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose any health risk. Fibre cement products are used in a variety of locations around the world, including schools and hospitals. Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely to cause diseases. These amphibole types have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile and cement are mixed, a durable and flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973). Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibres that range in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. They are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder. Asbestos was widely used during the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, from era to and also from geographical location. Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mainly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is found in the environment because of natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated like ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, and insulation. It is becoming apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. They can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs from a variety of nations. Asbestos gets into the environment primarily in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused by natural weathering. However it can also be caused by humans, such as through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos at work. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed to harmful fibres, which could then get into the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can be experienced in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile and therefore easier to breathe in. They can also be lodged deeper inside lung tissues. It has been linked to a greater number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos. The six major types are chrysotile and amosite. The most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be present in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile. However, they can pose a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc. Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, and others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills. IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risks vary depending on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma condition, then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111. Amphibole Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic structure in their crystals, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains consist of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by octahedral strips. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and hard. Due to their similarity in hardness and color, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also share a similar Cleavage. Their chemistry allows for a range of compositions. The different amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos: amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It is made up of sharp fibers that can be easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite can range from yellow to brown in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This variety was used to make cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. las cruces asbestos lawsuit , WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.