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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. Research shows that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues. You cannot tell if something contains asbestos by looking at it, and you won't be able to taste or smell it. Asbestos can only be detected when the substances that contain it are broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile comprised the majority of the asbestos produced. It was used by many industries including construction, fireproofing, and insulation. If workers were exposed to this harmful material, they could develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to increase in the 1960's. It is still present in many products we use today. Chrysotile can be safely used in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been determined that at the current controlled exposure levels, there isn't an undue risk to the workers who handle the substance. The inhalation of airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven in terms of intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure. In one study, mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. The study found that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality at this factory. Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative effects than fibrils with a longer length. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used across the globe particularly in structures like hospitals and schools. Studies have shown that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the primary cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong, flexible product is created that can withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and taken away. Amosite Asbestos refers to a set of fibrous silicate minerals that naturally occur in certain kinds of rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine as well as tremolite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite (IARC, 1973). Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to wide. They can be curled or straight. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. These are widely used in consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder. The largest asbestos use was during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, when it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were in the air, however some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographical location. The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly caused by inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through contact with skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles, car brakes and clutches, as well as insulation. It is becoming clear that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly knit like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountains, sandstones and cliffs of a variety of countries. Asbestos can be absorbed into the environment in a variety of ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It can also leach out into soil or water. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of ground and surface water is mostly a result of natural weathering, however it has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities like mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials as well as the disposal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness for people exposed to it occupationally. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs and cause serious health issues. These include mesothelioma and asbestosis. Exposure to fibers can occur in different ways too, such as contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is especially dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile which makes them more difficult to inhale. They also can get deeper within lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types. The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite and actinolite. The most well-known asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four have not been as widely utilized however they can be found in older buildings. richmond asbestos lawyer are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a danger when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite. Many studies have discovered an connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on how much exposure, the type of asbestos is involved, and how long exposure lasts. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a disease such as mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses They should seek advice from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They are a monoclinic system of crystals, but some have an orthorhombic shape. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated from each other with octahedral strips. Amphiboles are present in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they can be difficult for some to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also have a similar cleavage. However their chemistry permits an array of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structure of the various mineral groups found in amphibole may be used to identify them. The five types of asbestos that belong to the amphibole group include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile as well as crocidolite and actinolite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own distinctive properties. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. The variety was used previously in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. These techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.