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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems. It is impossible to tell just by looking at something whether it contains asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It is only discovered in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile was responsible for 99% of the asbestos made. It was utilized in a variety of industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma was first becoming a problem asbestos use has declined significantly. However, trace amounts of it remain in products that we use today. Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling program in place. It has been determined that, at today's controlled exposure levels, there isn't an unneeded risk to the people handling the substance. Inhaling airborne fibers has been linked with lung fibrosis and lung cancer. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and time span of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility that used a large proportion of chlorosotile to make friction materials and national death rates. It was discovered that, for 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no signifi cant 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 that are longer. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals. Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos such as amosite or crocidolite is not as likely to cause disease. Amphibole types like these are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand extreme conditions in the weather and other environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and safely disposed of. Amosite Asbestos is a term used to describe a class of silicate mineral fibrous which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973). Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibers that range in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to make vermiculite or talcum powder. They are used extensively in consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics, and even face powder. The most extensive use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of twentieth century where it was used in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era and geographic location. The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly because of inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed by contact with their skin 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, car brakes and clutches as well as insulation. There is evidence emerging that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries. Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly as airborne particles, but it also leaches into water and soil. This is a result of both 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 is also caused by human activity, for instance through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Exposure to asbestos-containing airborne fibers is the primary cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos at work. Crocidolite Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most frequent way people are exposed harmful fibres, which could be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of exposure are higher when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are smaller and more fragile making them more palatable to inhale. They also can get deeper within lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma-related cases than other asbestos types. The main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most frequently used types of asbestos, and comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos that is used. The other four have not been as widely utilized, but they may still be present in older buildings. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile, however they could pose a threat when combined with other asbestos minerals or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite. Numerous studies have shown an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent 95% CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills. IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risks vary depending on the amount of exposure, what type of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and suffer from respiratory issues or mesothelioma, then you should see your physician or NHS111. Amphibole Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. glendale asbestos attorney 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 each other with octahedral strips. Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. However their chemistry permits the use of a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole can be used to identify them. Amphibole asbestos consists of chrysotile, and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. While the most popular asbestos type is chrysotile each type is unique in its own way. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This variety was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials. Amphiboles can be difficult to study due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also don't differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.