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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues. It is difficult to tell by taking a look at something if it is made up of asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be identified when materials containing it are broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile accounted for up 99% of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since mesothelioma awareness began to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it are still found in common products that we use in the present. Chrysotile can be used safely if a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. People who handle chrysotile do not exposed to an undue amount of risk at current limits of exposure. Inhaling airborne fibers is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure. A study that looked at a factory that used almost exclusively chrysotile to manufacture friction materials compared mortality rates in this facility with national mortality rates. It was found that, for the 40 years of processing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no significant additional mortality in this factory. As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They can penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres with longer lengths. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to be airborne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used in many parts of 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 diseases. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile mix, a durable, flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely remove asbestos fibres once they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates found in certain types rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibers that range in length from fine to wide. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to form vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used as consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder. Asbestos was used extensively in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved airborne asbestos fibres, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry industry, era to and even geographical location. The majority of asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed via skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos is only present in the the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials such as insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles. There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are fibres don't form the tightly woven fibrils of the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of many countries. Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it also leaches into soil and water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly due to natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most frequent method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lungs and cause serious health problems. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways, too like contact with contaminated clothing, or building materials. The dangers of exposure are higher when crocidolite (the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle and therefore easier to inhale. They can also get deeper within lung tissues. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos. The six primary types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as extensively used, but they may still be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile however they could still be dangerous when combined with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite. Numerous studies have shown an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills. IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other health problems, but the risk is dependent on how much exposure people are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved as well as the duration of exposure and the method by which it is breathed in or ingested. The IARC has recommended that avoid all forms of asbestos is the best option since this is the most safe option for people. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness, such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory ailments, they should seek guidance from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral made up of two chains of molecules of SiO4. 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 are composed of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons which are connected in rings of six. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral site. Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark-colored and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar the cleavage. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various minerals in amphibole can be used to determine their composition. The five types of asbestos in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. wilmington asbestos attorneys include actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has its own unique properties. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is composed of sharp fibers that can be easily breathed into the lung. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised mostly of iron and magnesium. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have a a complicated chemical structure and many substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance, cannot distinguish between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also don't distinguish between ferro-hornblende and.