Ask Me Anything: 10 Answers To Your Questions About Asbestos Attorney
The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health issues.
It is impossible to determine if a product includes asbestos simply by looking at it and you cannot smell or taste it. Asbestos can only be detected when the substances that contain it are broken or drilled.
Chrysotile
At its height, chrysotile comprised up 99% of the asbestos production. It was widely used in industries, including construction insulation, fireproofing, and insulation. However, if workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could develop mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Thankfully, the use of this harmful mineral has diminished dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. It is still present in a variety of products we use in the present.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. Chrysotile handling workers aren't exposed to an undue amount of risk at the current limits of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have all been found to be strongly linked to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven for both intensity (dose) and duration of exposure.
A study that looked at a factory that used almost all chrysotile as its friction materials, compared mortality rates in this facility with national death rates. It was found that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile in low levels of exposure there was no significant increase in mortality in this particular factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be shorter. They can penetrate the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. This makes them more likely to cause ill-health effects than fibrils with a longer length.
When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to become airborne and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world, especially in buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Studies have shown that chrysotile is less likely to cause disease than amphibole asbestos, like crocidolite and amosite. Amphibole types like these are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile mixes with cement, it forms a strong, flexible building product that can withstand extreme weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also very easy to clean up after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
san leandro asbestos lawyer is a class of fibrous silicates that are found in a variety of rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: amphibole, serpentine anthophyllite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite (IARC, 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise long, thin fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. They can be found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used as consumer goods, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.
The heaviest asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of the twentieth century when it was utilized in insulation, shipbuilding, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work were in the air, however some workers also were exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and vermiculite that was contaminated. Exposures varied by industry, time and geographical location.
The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is mainly due to inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed through skin contact or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is only found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated like ceiling and floor tiles as well as car brakes and clutches, and insulation.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibers can also be carcinogenic. These fibres are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole or serpentine, they are loose elastic, flexible, and needle-like. These fibres can be found in the mountains, sandstones, and cliffs of many countries.
Asbestos can be found in the environment in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic causes (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly caused by natural weathering. However, it has also been caused by humans, such as through milling and mining of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the disposal of contaminated waste in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness among people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed harmful fibres. They can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases can be caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in other ways, too, for example, contact with contaminated clothing or materials. The dangers of exposure are greater when crocidolite, the blue form of asbestos is involved. Crocidolite has smaller, more fragile fibers, which are easier to breathe in and may lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma-related cases than any other form of asbestos.
The main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. The most well-known asbestos types are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together make up 95% all commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types aren't as well-known, but can still be found in older structures. They are not as hazardous as amosite and chrysotile, however they could be a risk when combined with other asbestos minerals or mined close to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite or talc.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. However, the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% 95% confidence interval: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers, while others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent C.I. 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All forms of asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other health issues, but the risks are different based on the amount of exposure that individuals are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used as well as the length of their exposure, and the manner in the way it is inhaled or consumed. The IARC has advised that the prevention of all asbestos types is the most important thing to do, as this is the most secure option for people. If you've been exposed in the past to asbestos and suffer from a respiratory condition or mesothelioma, you should talk to your doctor or NHS111.
Amphibole
Amphiboles are a grouping of minerals which can form prism-like or needle-like crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral that is composed of double chains of molecules of SiO4. They typically have a monoclinic crystal structure however some may have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. Double chains contain (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals are found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are usually dark-colored and tough. Because of their similar hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some to distinguish from Pyroxenes. They also have a similar cleavage. However their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various mineral groups in amphibole can be used to identify them.
The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite as well as crocidolite and actinolite. The most widely used form of asbestos is chrysotile. Each variety has its own distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos type. It contains sharp fibers that can easily be breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. This variety was once used in cement-based products and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are difficult to analyse because of their complex chemical structure and the numerous substitutions. Therefore, a thorough analysis of their composition requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. Additionally, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.