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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research suggests that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer as well as other health issues. You cannot tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it and you cannot taste or smell it. It is only found when the asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken. Chrysotile At its height, chrysotile provided for 99percent of the asbestos produced. It was utilized in a variety of industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing, as well as insulation. Unfortunately, if workers were exposed to this harmful material, they may develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma began to become a problem asbestos use has been reduced significantly. It is still found in many products we use in the present. Chrysotile can be used safely when a thorough safety and handling plan is in place. It has been proven that at the present exposure levels, there isn't an danger to the people working with it. Inhaling airborne fibres has been strongly associated with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for both the intensity (dose) and duration of exposure. One study that examined an industrial facility that used almost exclusively chrysotile in the production of friction materials, compared the mortality rates of this factory with national mortality rates. The study concluded that, after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant rise in mortality at this factory. Chrysotile fibres tend to be shorter than other forms of asbestos. They are able to penetrate the lungs and then enter the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than fibres with longer lengths. It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibres be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. Fibre cement products are widely used in a variety of locations around the world, including schools and hospitals. Studies have shown that chrysotile's risk is lower to cause disease than amphibole asbestos such as amosite and crocidolite. These amphibole types are the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined together, a strong, flexible product is created that is able to withstand extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a set of silicate mineral fibrous that are found naturally in specific kinds of rock formations. It consists of six general groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973). Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibers that vary in length from very thin to broad and straight to curled. They are found in nature as bundles or individual fibrils. Asbestos can also be found in a powder form (talc) or combined with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. They are extensively used as consumer products, such as baby powder, cosmetics, and even face powder. The greatest use of asbestos was in the first two-thirds of the 20th century where it was used in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were to asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to toxic talc or vermiculite as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time and geographical location. Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mostly caused by inhalation. However there have been instances of workers being exposed by contact with their skin or eating food that is contaminated. Asbestos is found in the natural environment due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches, as well as insulation. There is evidence to suggest that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are fibers 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. They can be found in cliffs, mountains and sandstones from a variety of nations. Asbestos can be found in the environment as airborne particles, but it also leaches into water and soil. This is caused by both natural (weathering of asbestos-bearing rocks) and anthropogenic sources (disintegration of asbestos-containing wastes and disposal in landfill sites). Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is mostly due to natural weathering, but it has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). Inhalation exposure to asbestos fibres is the most common cause of illness for people exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most common way people are exposed to the harmful fibres that can then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be experienced in other ways, like contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. This type of exposure is more dangerous when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are softer and less brittle, making them easier to inhale. chesapeake asbestos lawsuit can also get deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a larger number of mesothelioma related cases than any other type of asbestos. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile amosite, epoxiemite, tremolite anthophyllite, and actinolite. The most popular forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile which together make up the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as widely used however, they could be present in older buildings. They are not as dangerous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite. Several studies have found an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The evidence is contradictory. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent range of CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% C.I. 0.76-2.5) for those who work in chrysotile mines and mills. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risks vary depending on how much exposure, what kind of asbestos is involved, and how long the exposure lasts. IARC has declared that the best choice for individuals is to avoid all forms of asbestos. However, if someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and are suffering from an illness such as mesothelioma or any other respiratory conditions and require advice, they should seek out guidance from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole belongs to a group of minerals that form long prism or needlelike crystals. They are a kind of inosilicate mineral made up of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, but 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 series of six tetrahedrons. The tetrahedrons are separated from each other by octahedral sites in strips. Amphiboles can be found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark-colored and tough. Due to their similarity in hardness and colour, they can be difficult for some people to differentiate from pyroxenes. They also share a similar the cleavage pattern. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The different amphibole mineral groups 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 variety of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is considered to be the most hazardous asbestos kind. It has sharp fibers that can be easily inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite has a brownish to yellowish hue and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. The variety was used previously in products such as cement and insulation materials. Amphibole minerals are hard to analyze because they have a an intricate chemical structure and many substitutions. A thorough analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. The most popular methods for identifying amphiboles is EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques are unable to distinguish between magnesio-hastingsite from magnesio-hornblende. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro hornblende and pargasite.