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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial products. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer, as well as other health problems. It is difficult to tell if something is asbestos-containing by looking at it, and you cannot taste or smell it. It is only found when the asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of asbestos production. It was widely used in industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this toxic mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to spread in the 1960's. However, trace amounts remain in the products we use today. Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. Personnel handling chrysotile aren't exposed to an undue amount of risk at current controlled exposure levels. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma have been strongly connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared between a factory that primarily used chrysotile in the manufacture of friction materials and national death rates. It was concluded that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory. Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to enter the lungs and enter the bloodstream. This makes them much more prone to cause negative consequences than longer fibres. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibers to be airborne or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world particularly in structures such as schools and hospitals. Research has shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, like amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the primary source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined and cured, a tough and flexible material is created that can withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types of rock formations. It is classified into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite), anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibers that range in length from extremely fine to broad and straight to curled. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles, or as individual fibrils. Asbestos is also found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to make talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively in consumer products including baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder. Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century for construction of ships insulation, fireproofing, insulation and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures to asbestos fibres occurred in the air, but some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rocks and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied by industry, time period and geographical location. The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mostly caused by inhalation. However there are workers who have been exposed by contact with their skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only found in the environment because of natural weathering and the degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches, and insulation. There is evidence emerging that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. austin asbestos lawsuit aren't tightly weaved like the fibrils in serpentine and amphibole, but are instead loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibres can be found in mountains, sandstones and cliffs in a variety of countries. Asbestos is able to enter the environment in many ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It can also be released into water or soil. This happens both through natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes in landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly a result of natural weathering, but has also been caused by human activities such as milling and mining demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated soils for disposal in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is still the primary cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos at work. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to dangerous fibres, which can then get into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to fibers can occur in other ways, too, such as contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The dangers of exposure are greater when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle, making them easier to inhale. They also can get deeper into lung tissues. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other types of asbestos. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. The most common forms of asbestos are epoxiemite as well as chrysotile which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are less dangerous than amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as vermiculite and talc. Several studies have found an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. Numerous studies have shown a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. However the evidence isn't conclusive. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, however the risks are different based on the amount of exposure that individuals are exposed to, the type of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the method by the way it is inhaled or ingested. The IARC has advised that avoiding all forms of asbestos is the best option, as this is the safest option for people. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory conditions, they should seek guidance from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole is a class of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of two chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a ring of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons can be separated from one another by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips. Amphiboles occur in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they can be difficult for some to differentiate from Pyroxenes. They also have a similar cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide variety of compositions. The various amphibole mineral groups are identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures. The five asbestos types in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and chrysotile, crocidolite, and actinolite. 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 inhale into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was once used in cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are difficult to analyze due to their complicated chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals is a complex process that requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most commonly used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for example, cannot distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.