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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was found in thousands of commercial products before it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems. You cannot tell by just looking at something if it is made up of asbestos. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. It is only discovered when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile accounted for 99% of the asbestos made. It was used in many industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use this harmful mineral has diminished drastically since mesothelioma awareness started to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use today. Chrysotile is safe to use when you have a thorough safety and handling plan in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk at the present limit of exposure. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed both for intensity (dose) as well as the duration of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared between a facility that primarily used chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and the national death rate. It was discovered that, for 40 years of preparing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure there was no significant extra mortality in the factory. As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more likely to cause health consequences than longer fibres. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals. Research has proven that chrysotile is less prone to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the main cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong and flexible material is created that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely eliminate asbestos fibres when they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a set of silicate mineral fibrous that are found naturally in specific types of rock formations. columbia asbestos lawsuit is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be straight or curled. These fibers are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles with splaying ends referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to create talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products including baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder. The largest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of the 20th century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos-related exposures in the workplace occurred in the air, however some workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied from industry industry, era to and also from geographical location. Most of the occupational exposures to asbestos were because of inhalation, but certain workers were exposed by skin contact or through eating contaminated food. Asbestos can be found in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degradation of contaminated products like insulation, car brakes, clutches as well as ceiling and floor tiles. There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that don't form the tightly interwoven fibrils that are found in the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers can be found in the cliffs, mountains and sandstones of many countries. Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also leach into water and soil. This is a result of both natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, but has also been caused by human activities like mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the primary reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos during their job. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to the harmful fibres, which could be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can also take place in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite has 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 asbestos types. The six major types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite, and actinolite. Chrysotile and amosite are among the most commonly used types of asbestos and make up 95 percent of all commercial asbestos that is used. The other four types haven't been as popularly used however they can be found in older buildings. They are not as dangerous as chrysotile or amosite but can still be a danger when combined with other minerals or when mined near other mineral deposits like talc and vermiculite. Numerous studies have proven the connection between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However, the evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent 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 who work in chrysotile mines and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified 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 how long the exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all forms of asbestos. If you have been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma, then you should see your physician or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles are a collection of minerals that may form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They usually have a monoclinic structure in their crystals however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains comprise (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together by tetrahedron rings made of six. Tetrahedrons may be separated by octahedral strips. Amphibole minerals are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a similar design of cleavage. However, their chemistry allows for many different compositions. The different mineral groups within amphibole are identified by their chemical compositions and crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos includes chrysotile and the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite) amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each type of asbestos comes with its own unique properties. The most harmful type of asbestos, crocidolite, is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is made up of magnesium and iron. This type of stone was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have a a complicated chemical structure and many substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most popular methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also don't distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.