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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems. It is difficult to tell if something is asbestos-containing simply by looking at it and you can't taste or smell it. Asbestos is only detectable when the material containing it is broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile provided for 90% of the asbestos made. It was widely used in industries like construction, insulation, and fireproofing. In the event that workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use of this dangerous mineral has decreased drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to grow in the 1960's. However, traces of it are still present in common products that we use in the present. Chrysotile is safe to use in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been determined that, at the present controlled exposure levels, there isn't an danger to those handling it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed both in terms of intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure. One study that examined a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials compared mortality rates at this factory with national death rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality rates in this factory. In contrast to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can enter the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than fibres that are longer. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it's very difficult for the fibres to breathe and cause health hazards. Fibre cement products are extensively used in various parts of the world, including schools and hospitals. Research has proven that amphibole asbestos, such as amosite or crocidolite is not as likely to cause disease. Amphibole types like these are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile and cement are mixed and cured, a tough, flexible product is created that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a set of fibrous silicate minerals that are found naturally in specific types of rock formations. brownsville asbestos law firm is divided into six groups: amphibole (serpentine) and the tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals are made up of thin, long fibers that range in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends called fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder. The most extensive asbestos use was during the early two-thirds of the twentieth century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite and also to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to the industry, time frame and geographical location. The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is usually caused by inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating contaminated foods. Asbestos is now only found in the the natural weathering of mined minerals and deterioration of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles. There is evidence to suggest that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that are not the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole or serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries. Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into soil and water. 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 ground and surface water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However it is also caused anthropogenically, such as through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). The inhalation of asbestos fibers is the primary cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most commonly used method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs which can cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways as well, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or construction materials. The risks of exposure are higher when crocidolite (the asbestos in the blue form is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easier to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other types of asbestos. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used forms of asbestos. They comprise 95% of all commercial asbestos that is used. The other four asbestos types aren't as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc. Numerous studies have shown that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers. However, others have reported an SMR of 1,24 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills. IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all kinds of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risks vary depending on the amount of exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types should be the highest priority because this is the best option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma, you should consult your GP or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system but some also 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. Tetrahedrons are distinguished from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips. Amphiboles are found in both igneous and metamorphic rock. They are usually dark-colored and tough. Because of their similar hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. However their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different minerals in amphibole can be used to identify them. Amphibole asbestos consists of chrysotile, and the five asbestos types amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. The most widely used asbestos type is chrysotile; each has distinct characteristics. The most dangerous type of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires special techniques. The most common methods of identifying amphiboles include EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques also cannot distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.