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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health issues. It is impossible to tell just by taking a look at something if it contains asbestos. It is also impossible to smell or taste it. Asbestos is only detected when the materials that contain it are broken or drilled. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile provided for 95% of the asbestos made. It was used by many industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma first became a problem, the use of asbestos has declined significantly. It is still found in many products we use in the present. Chrysotile can be used safely in the event that a thorough safety and handling plan is put into place. It has been proven that at the current controlled exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers working with it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all associated with breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and time span of exposure. In one study mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility that primarily used Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. It was discovered that, for 40 years of preparing chrysotile asbestos at low levels of exposure there was no signifi cant excess mortality in this factory. Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to breathe and pose any health risk. Fibre cement products are used in a variety of locations around the world including hospitals and schools. Research has proven that amphibole asbestos such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. arizona asbestos lawsuit have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related diseases. When cement and chrysotile are mixed together, a strong and flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also easy to clean up after use. Asbestos fibers can be easily removed by a professional and safely removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a group of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is composed of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole anthophyllite, tremolite and crocidolite (IARC, 1973). Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length, ranging from very fine to wide and straight to curled. These fibers are found in nature in the form of individual fibrils or bundles with splaying ends called a fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc), or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder. The most extensive use of asbestos occurred in the early two-thirds of the 20th century in the period when it was employed in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time and geographical location. Most asbestos exposures at work were caused by inhalation, however some workers were also exposed by skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only present in the environment due to natural weathering of mined ores and deterioration of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles. It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not have the tight interwoven fibrils that are found in the serpentine and amphibole minerals, but instead are flexible, loose and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs from a variety of countries. Asbestos is able to enter the environment in many ways, including in the form of airborne particles. It can also leach out into water or soil. This can be due to both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes as well as disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily due to natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by human activity, for instance through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials demolition and dispersal and the disposal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the main cause of disease among those who are exposed to it during their occupation. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most popular way people are exposed harmful fibres that can then enter the lungs and cause serious health problems. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be experienced in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite which is the asbestos that is blue, is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with more mesothelioma cancer cases than other asbestos types. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most commonly used asbestos types are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as prevalent, but could still be present in older structures. They are less dangerous than chrysotile or amosite but can 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. The evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have cited an SMR (standardized death ratio) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6), for all asbestos workers, and others report an SMR of 1,24 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.76-2.5), for those who work in chrysotile mines or chrysotile mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other health issues, although the risks are different based on how much exposure individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the method by which it is inhaled or consumed. IARC has stated that the best choice for people is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and are suffering from respiratory issues or mesothelioma, then you should consult your GP or NHS111. Amphibole Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals that create prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They have a monoclinic structure of crystals, but certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. 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. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other by octahedral sites in strips. Amphiboles occur in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark and hard. Due to their similarity of hardness and color, they may be difficult for some to differentiate from the pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding the cleavage. Their chemistry can allow for a range of compositions. The different mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos comprises chrysotile and the five asbestos types amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite), and amosite. Each variety of asbestos has its own unique properties. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos type. It is composed of sharp fibers that are easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish color and is made mostly of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are difficult to analyze because they have an intricate chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A detailed analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized techniques. The most widely used methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio hornblende and hastingsite. These techniques also do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.