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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned, asbestos was widely used in commercial products. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues. It is impossible to determine if a product is asbestos-containing by looking at it, and you are unable to taste or smell it. It is only discovered when materials containing asbestos are drilled, chipped or broken. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 90% of the asbestos produced. philadelphia asbestos lawyer was used in many industries, including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. However, if workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma was first becoming an issue, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. However, trace amounts of it remain in common products that we use in the present. Chrysotile can be safely used in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to a significant amount of risk based on the current limit of exposure. The inhalation of airborne particles is strongly linked to lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been confirmed for intensity (dose) as in the time of exposure. In one study, mortality rates were compared between a facility which used almost exclusively Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and the national death rate. It was found that for 40 years of preparing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory. Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can pass through the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibres with longer lengths. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibres to be in the air or pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products have been extensively used all over the world particularly in structures like hospitals and schools. Research has revealed that chrysotile is less prone to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole varieties are the primary cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand the most extreme weather conditions and other environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can easily be removed by a professional and eliminated. Amosite Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates found in certain types rock formations. It is comprised of six general groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC 1973). Asbestos minerals are made up of long, thin fibres that range in length, ranging from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are present in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles with splaying ends referred to as a fibril matrix. Asbestos minerals can also be found in the form of a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as talcum powder and vermiculite and are used in consumer products, such as baby powder, face powder and cosmetics. The most extensive use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds period of the 20th century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres occurred in the air, but certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry to industry, era to era, and geographical location. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace were caused by inhalation, however certain workers were exposed through skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the the natural weathering of mined ore and deterioration of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes, clutches and ceiling and floor tiles. There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres don't form the tightly weaved fibrils of serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountain sandstones, cliffs and sandstones of a variety of countries. Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and 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 typically a result of natural weathering, but it has also been caused by human activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the most significant cause of illness in people exposed to asbestos during their work. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. These fibres can get into the lung and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses are all caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to the fibres can be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothing 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 and therefore easier to inhale. They can also get deeper inside lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other types of asbestos. The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite and tremolite. They are epoxiemite, tremol anthophyllite and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most frequently used types of asbestos and make up 95 percent of all asbestos used in commercial construction. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be present in older structures. They are less harmful than amosite and chrysotile. However, they may pose a danger when mixed with other asbestos minerals or mined in close proximity to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, like vermiculite or talc. Numerous studies have proven an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have cited a SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, whereas others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those working in chrysotile mines and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure, the type of asbestos is involved and the length of time that exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that avoid all forms of asbestos should be the highest priority, as this is the most secure option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from respiratory issues or mesothelioma then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic crystal system however some may 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 linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated one another by octahedral sites in strips. Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and color. They also share a similar cleavage pattern. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The various mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos consists of chrysotile, and the five asbestos types amosite, anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has its own unique properties. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish color and is composed primarily of magnesium and iron. The variety was used previously in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have a complicated chemical structure and a variety of substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized methods. The most common methods for identifying amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. However, these methods only give approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also cannot differentiate between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.