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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned asbestos was used in thousands commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems. You can't tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it and you won't be able to taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when the materials that contain it are broken, drilled, or chipped. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile made up 99% of the asbestos production. It was employed in many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use this harmful mineral has diminished dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to increase in the 1960's. It is still present in many products we use in the present. Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. It has been discovered that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there is no danger to those who handle the substance. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure. One study that looked into a facility that used nearly exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials, compared mortality rates in this factory with national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality rates at this facility. Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They can penetrate the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause health effects than longer fibres. When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools. Research has proven that amphibole asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is not as likely than chrysotile in causing disease. Amphibole types like these are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it forms a tough, flexible building product that can withstand harsh conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and safely eliminated. Amosite Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicate minerals that naturally occur in certain types of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973). Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature in bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used as consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics and face powder. yuma asbestos attorneys was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to contaminated vermiculite or talc and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographic location. The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly caused by inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed via skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is found in the air due to natural weathering and degrading of contaminated materials like ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, as well as insulation. It is becoming clear that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These fibers aren't tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries. Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This can be triggered by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) as well as anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, but has also been caused by anthropogenic activities such as milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant cause of disease among those exposed to it in their occupation. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most common method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lung, causing serious health problems. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be experienced in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile, making them easier to breathe in. They can also lodge deeper into lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos. The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most well-known forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four types of asbestos haven't been as extensively used however, they could be present in older buildings. They are less hazardous than amosite and chrysotile, but they may pose a danger when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined in close proximity to other mineral deposits, like talc or vermiculite. A number of studies have demonstrated an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills. IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all kinds of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma or other health problems, but the risks vary according to how much exposure people are exposed to, the type of asbestos used as well as the length of their exposure and the method by which it is inhaled or consumed. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types should be the highest priority, as this is the most secure option for individuals. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma condition, then you should talk to your doctor or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of silicate mineral that is composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure but some also have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral sites. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they may be difficult for some people to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also have a comparable cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide variety of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures. The five asbestos types belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and actinolite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile, each variety has its own unique characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers that are easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish color and is composed primarily of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals can be difficult to study because of their complex chemical structures and a variety of substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. The most widely used methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also cannot distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.