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The Dangers of Exposure to AsbestosAsbestos was used in a variety of commercial products prior to when it was banned. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health problems.It is difficult to tell if something has asbestos just by looking at it, and you are unable to taste or smell it. It is only visible when asbestos-containing materials are drilled, chipped or broken.ChrysotileAt its height, chrysotile was responsible for 95% of the asbestos made. It was employed in many industries such as construction insulation, fireproofing and insulation. In the event that workers were exposed for long periods to this toxic substance, they could develop mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Thankfully, the use this dangerous mineral has decreased significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to spread in the 1960’s. It is still found 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. It has been found that at the current controlled exposure levels, there isn’t an danger to those handling it. Lung cancer, lung fibrosis and mesothelioma were all connected to breathing in airborne respirable fibres. This has been proven to be true for both the intensity (dose) and the duration of exposure.In one study, mortality rates were compared among a factory which used largely chlorosotile to make friction materials and the national death rate. The study concluded that, after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant increase in mortality rates at this facility.Chrysotile fibers are generally shorter than other types of asbestos. They can pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems over longer fibres.When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to be airborne and pose health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world particularly in buildings such as schools and hospitals.Research has proven that chrysotile is less likely to cause illness than amphibole asbestos, like amosite and crocidolite. Amphibole asbestos types have been the primary cause of mesothelioma and various asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile gets mixed with cement, it creates a tough, flexible building product that can withstand harsh weather conditions and other environmental dangers. It is also easy to clean after use. Asbestos fibres can be easily removed by a professional and safely taken away.AmositeAsbestos refers to a set of silicate fibrous minerals which are found naturally in a variety of kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups which include amphibole (serpentine) and tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.Asbestos minerals are composed of thin, long fibres 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 can also be found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are widely used as consumer products, such as baby powder cosmetics and face powder.The heaviest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds of the 20th century in the period when it was employed in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. Most occupational exposures were asbestos fibres in the air, however some workers were exposed vermiculite or talc that was contaminated as well as to fragments of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time period and geographical location.Most occupational exposures to asbestos were because of inhalation, but some workers were also exposed via skin contact or by eating food contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is now only found in the environment from natural weathering of mined ores and the degradation of contaminated products such as insulation, car brakes and clutches and ceiling and floor tiles.It is becoming clear that amphibole fibers that are not commercially available could also be carcinogenic. These are the fibres that do not form the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the cliffs and mountains of several countries.Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into soil and water. This occurs both from natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and the anthropogenic (disintegration and disposal of asbestos-containing wastes at landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground waters is primarily caused through natural weathering. However it can also be caused by anthropogeny, such as through the mining and milling of asbestos-containing materials, demolition and dispersal, and the removal of contaminated dumping material in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Airborne asbestos fibres are the main cause of illness among people exposed to asbestos in their work.CrocidoliteInhalation exposure is the most popular method of exposure to asbestos fibres. The fibres can penetrate the lungs which can cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are all caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos fibres could also take place in other ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are heightened when crocidolite, the asbestos that is blue is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easier to breathe and can be lodged deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.The six primary types are chrysotile and amosite. The most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos used. The other four have not been as popularly used, but they may still be found in older buildings. They are less dangerous than amosite and chrysotile, but they could be a risk when mixed with other asbestos minerals, or when mined close to other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc or vermiculite.Numerous studies have demonstrated that there is a link between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. However there is no conclusive evidence. Some researchers have cited an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos while other studies have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers in chrysotile mines and mills.IARC The IARC, also known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma but the risk is different based on the amount of exposure is taken, what type of asbestos is involved, and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has recommended that the prevention of all asbestos types should be the top priority because this is the most secure option for those who are exposed. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and suffer from respiratory issues or mesothelioma condition, then you should seek advice from your physician or NHS111.AmphiboleAmphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic system of crystals, however certain crystals have an orthorhombic form. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are made up of (Si,Al)O4 Tetrahedrons that are joined in rings of six. The tetrahedrons can be separated from each other by octahedral sites that are surrounded by strips.Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are usually dark-colored and are hard. They can be difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and colors. They also have a similar the cleavage. Their chemistry allows a wide range of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the different mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.The five asbestos types that belong to the amphibole group include chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each type of asbestos has its own distinct properties. las vegas asbestos lawsuit of asbestos, crocidolite, is composed of sharp fibers that are easy to breathe into the lung. Anthophyllite is yellowish to brown in color and is composed of magnesium and iron. This variety was once used in cement and insulation materials.Amphibole minerals can be difficult to study because of their complex chemical structures and many substitutions. Therefore, a detailed analysis of their composition requires specialized techniques. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most widely used methods of identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance, cannot distinguish between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.