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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems. It is not possible to tell by simply looking at a thing if it's made of asbestos. It is also impossible to taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be identified when materials containing it are broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile made up for 95% of the asbestos that was produced. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to the toxic material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Fortunately, the use this harmful mineral has diminished drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to increase in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it can still be found in common products that we use today. Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that you have a complete safety and handling plan in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present controlled exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma are all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and time of exposure. One study that studied the operation of a factory that utilized almost exclusively chrysotile for manufacturing friction materials compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. The study found that, after 40 years of processing low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates at this facility. Chrysotile fibres are usually shorter than other types of asbestos. They can enter the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's extremely difficult for the fibres to air-borne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are used in a variety of locations around the world, including schools and hospitals. Research has shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand extreme weather conditions and other 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 category of silicate mineral fibrous which are found naturally in a variety of types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine), Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals are composed of long, thin fibres that vary in length from extremely thin to broad and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals are also found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder, which have been widely used in consumer products such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics. Asbestos was heavily used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships as well as insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era era, and geographical location. Most asbestos exposures that workers were exposed to was due to inhalation. However, some workers were also exposed via skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos can only be found in the environment because of natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, and insulation. It is becoming increasingly apparent that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers that do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries. Asbestos may enter the environment in a variety ways, including as airborne particles. It is also able to leach into water or soil. This can be caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination in surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it can also be caused by anthropogeny, such as through mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the main reason for illness among those exposed to it in their work. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to the harmful fibres, which could then get into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can be experienced in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are thinner and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper in lung tissues. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma related cases than any other form of asbestos. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite and actinolite. The most popular asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be found in older structures. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a risk when mixed with other minerals, or when mined close to other mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite. Several studies have found an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However there is no conclusive evidence. Certain researchers have cited an 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% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as other health problems, but the risks differ based on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos used as well as the duration of exposure and the way in the way it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to avoid all types of asbestos. However, if a person has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory ailments and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that create prism-like or needle-like crystals. hartford asbestos attorneys are a kind of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They usually have a monoclinic crystal structure however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from each other with octahedral strips. Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes because they have similar hardness and color. They also share a similar pattern of cleavage. However their chemistry allows an array of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures. The five types of asbestos belonging to the amphibole family are amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and actinolite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile; each has its own distinct characteristics. The most hazardous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite comes in a brownish-to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This type of stone was once used in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example cannot differentiate between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.