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The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos Before it was banned, asbestos was still used in a variety of commercial products. According to research, asbestos exposure can cause cancer as well as other health issues. It is not possible to tell by simply looking at something whether it is made up of asbestos. Also, you cannot taste or smell it. It is only found when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken. Chrysotile At its peak, chrysotile made up for 95% of the asbestos made. It was used by many industries which included construction insulation, fireproofing, and construction. In the event that workers were exposed to this toxic material, they could contract mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Since the 1960s, when mesothelioma was first becoming a concern asbestos use has declined significantly. However, it is still present in trace amounts. are still found in products that we use in the present. Chrysotile is safe to use if a thorough safety and handling plan is put in place. Workers handling chrysotile are not exposed to an unreasonable amount of risk based on the current limit of exposure. Lung fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma were all linked to breathing airborne respirable fibres. This has been confirmed both for intensity (dose) as and the duration of exposure. One study that examined the operation of a factory that utilized almost all chrysotile as its friction materials, compared mortality rates in this facility with national mortality rates. The study found that after 40 years of converting low levels of chrysotile there was no significant rise in mortality rates in this factory. Unlike some other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They are able to enter the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres. It is very difficult for chrysotile fibrous to be inhaled or to pose a health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are used extensively throughout the world, especially in buildings like hospitals and schools. Research has revealed that amphibole asbestos, like amosite, crocidolite, or crocidolite, is less likely than chrysotile to cause diseases. Amphibole asbestos kinds have been the main source of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. When cement and chrysotile are mixed with cement, a tough and flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards. It is also easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed. Amosite Asbestos refers to a group of silicate minerals with fibrous structure that occur naturally in certain kinds of rock formations. It is divided into six groups that include amphibole (serpentine) and Tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite. Asbestos minerals consist of thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils, or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos is also found in powder form (talc), or mixed with other minerals in order to create vermiculite or talcum powder. These are commonly used in consumer products, including baby powder, cosmetics and facial powder. The most extensive asbestos use occurred during the first two-thirds of 20th century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing, and other construction materials. The majority of asbestos exposures for work occurred in the air, however certain workers were also exposed to asbestos-bearing rock fragments and contaminated vermiculite. Exposures varied according to industry, time and geographical location. Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mainly because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed through contact with skin or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is found in the environment due to natural weathering and degradation of contaminated products like ceiling and floor tiles automobile brakes and clutches as well as insulation. It is becoming clear that non-commercial amphibole fibers could also be carcinogenic. These are fibres that are not the tightly woven fibrils of the amphibole and serpentine minerals, but instead are loose, flexible and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries. Asbestos enters the environment mainly in the form of airborne particles, however it can also be absorbed into water and soil. This can be 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 ground and surface water is largely associated with natural weathering, but it has also been triggered by anthropogenic activities such as mining and milling demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing materials, and the removal of contaminated dumping ground in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Inhalation exposure to airborne asbestos fibres remains the main cause of illness for people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Crocidolite Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent method by which people are exposed to harmful fibres, which could then be inhaled and cause serious health issues. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos fibres could be triggered in other ways, including contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. This kind of exposure is more hazardous when crocidolite (the blue asbestos form) is involved. Crocidolite fibers are less dense and more fragile which makes them more difficult to breathe. They can also be lodged deeper into lung tissue. It has been linked to more mesothelioma cases than other asbestos types. The six main types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite as well as epoxiemite. Tremolite is anthophyllite and actinolite. Amosite and chrysotile are two of the most frequently used types of asbestos and make up 95 percent of all commercial asbestos in use. The other four types haven't been as widely utilized but they can be found in older buildings. They aren't as hazardous as amosite or chrysotile but still be a danger when mixed with other minerals, or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits, such as talc and vermiculite. bellingham asbestos attorney have demonstrated an association between stomach cancer and asbestos exposure. The evidence is not conclusive. Some researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers as well as an SMR of 1.24 (95 percent CI: 0.76-2.5) for those working in chrysotile mines and mills. IARC the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has classified all types of asbestos as carcinogenic. All kinds of asbestos can cause mesothelioma or other health issues, but the risks vary according to the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos involved, the duration of their exposure and the way in the way it is inhaled or consumed. The IARC has recommended that abstaining from all asbestos forms is the best option since this is the most secure option for individuals. However, if people have been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from a disease such as mesothelioma or other respiratory diseases it is recommended that they seek advice from their GP or NHS 111. Amphibole Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needle-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically have a monoclinic crystal system, although some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in rings of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons can be separated by octahedral strips. Amphibole minerals are prevalent in metamorphic and igneous rocks. They are typically dark and hard. They are sometimes difficult to differentiate from pyroxenes as they share similar hardness and color. They also share a corresponding the cleavage pattern. However, their chemistry allows for many different compositions. The different minerals within amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures. Amphibole asbestos is comprised of chrysotile as well as the five types of asbestos amosite anthophyllite (crocidolite), amosite (actinolite) and amosite. Each type of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is the most dangerous asbestos kind. It is made up of sharp fibers that can easily be inhaled into the lung. Anthophyllite is brown to yellowish in color and is composed of iron and magnesium. This type of stone was once used in products like cement and insulation materials. Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze due to 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 popular methods of identifying amphiboles. However, these methods only provide approximate identifications. For instance, these techniques can't distinguish between magnesio-hornblende and hastingsite. In addition, these techniques can not distinguish between ferro-hornblende as well as pargasite.