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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health problems. It is impossible to determine if a product has asbestos just simply by looking at it and you are unable to smell or taste it. It is only discovered when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 90% of the asbestos made. It was employed in many industries such as construction, fireproofing, and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed to the toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a major concern, the use of asbestos has been drastically reduced. It is still present in a variety of products we use today. Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been discovered that at the current controlled exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers who handle it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory that used a large proportion of Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. The study found that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility. In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibrils with a longer length. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals. Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is less likely to cause diseases. Amphibole asbestos types have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related illnesses. When chrysotile is combined with cement, it forms an extremely durable and flexible building product that can withstand harsh weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a set of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibres that vary in length, ranging from very fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. They are extensively used in consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics and face powder. Asbestos was heavily used in the first two thirds of the 20th century for shipbuilding insulation, fireproofing, insulation and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres borne by air, but certain workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated, and to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied from industry to industry, from era to and also from geographical location. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were caused by inhalation, however some workers were also exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos can be found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined ore and the degrading of contaminated materials like insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles. There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that don't form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in mountains, sandstones, and cliffs in a variety of countries. Asbestos can be found in the environment 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 anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is typically a result of natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activities such as milling and mining, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping soil in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness among people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can infiltrate the lungs and cause serious health problems. This includes asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to the fibres can occur in different ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is particularly dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other type of asbestos. The six primary kinds are chrysotile and amosite. Amosite and chrysotile are the most commonly used types of asbestos. They comprise 95% of all asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four types haven't been as widely used but they can be present in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits such as vermiculite and talc. Several studies have found an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an 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 percent 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 but the risks vary depending on how much exposure, what type of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness, such as mesothelioma and other respiratory conditions and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their doctor or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphiboles are groups of minerals which can form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but some have an orthorhombic structure. asheville asbestos lawyer 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 one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes since they share similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. However their chemistry allows many different compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to determine their composition. The five types of asbestos in the amphibole class include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own distinctive properties. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite is made up 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. The variety was used previously in products such as cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized techniques. The most widely used methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, they are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. These techniques also cannot differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.