• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

The Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos was used in a variety of commercial products before it was banned. According research, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and a host of other health problems.

It is not possible to tell by simply looking at something whether it contains asbestos. You cannot smell or taste it. It is only discovered when asbestos-containing materials are chipped, drilled or broken.

Chrysotile

At its peak, chrysotile made up for 90% of the asbestos produced. It was widely used in industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they may develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Fortunately, the use this dangerous mineral has decreased dramatically since mesothelioma awareness began to spread in the 1960's. It is still found in many products we use in the present.

Chrysotile is safe to use if you have a comprehensive safety and handling program in place. People who handle chrysotile do not at risk of being exposed to a high degree of risk at the present 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.

In one study mortality rates were compared among a factory that used a large proportion of Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. It was found that for 40 years of processing asbestos chrysotile at a low level of exposure There was no significant extra mortality in the factory.

Contrary to other types of asbestos, chrysotile fibres tend to be smaller. They can penetrate the lungs and pass into the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health issues than fibres with longer lengths.

It is extremely difficult for chrysotile fibers to be a threat to the air or pose any health risk when mixed with cement. The fibre cement products are extensively used throughout the world particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.

Research has demonstrated that amphibole asbestos, such as crocidolite or amosite is less likely than chrysotile in causing diseases. These amphibole varieties are the main source of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. When chrysotile is mixed in with cement, it creates a strong, flexible construction product that can withstand harsh conditions in the weather and other environmental dangers. It is also very easy to clean after use. Professionals can safely dispose of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.

Amosite

Asbestos is a category of fibrous silicates found in a variety of rock formations. It is classified into six groups including amphibole (serpentine), the tremolite (tremolite) anthophyllite (crocidolite) and anthophyllite.

Asbestos minerals consist of long, thin fibres that vary in length from very fine to wide and straight to curled. These fibres are found in nature as individual fibrils or as bundles that have splaying ends, referred to as fibril matrix. Asbestos can also be found in powder form (talc) or mixed with other minerals to form talcum powder or vermiculite. They are used extensively as consumer goods, like baby powder, cosmetics, and face powder.

Asbestos was extensively used in the early two-thirds of the 20th century to construct construction of ships, insulation, fireproofing, and various other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures were asbestos fibres that were borne in the air, but some workers were exposed to vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rocks (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied according to industry, time period and geographical location.

The exposure to asbestos at work is mostly because of inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed through skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is only found in the environment because of natural weathering and degrading of products that are contaminated, such as ceiling and floor tiles cars, brakes and clutches, and insulation.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that non-commercial amphibole fibres may also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly weaved like the fibrils in amphibole and serpentine, they are loose as well as flexible and needle-like. These fibres are found in the mountains and cliffs of several countries.

Asbestos is absorbed into the environment mostly in the form of airborne particles, however it also leaches into water and soil. This can be triggered 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 mostly due to natural weathering, but has also been caused by anthropogenic activities like milling and mining demolition and dispersal asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR, 2001). The inhalation of asbestos litigation fibres remains the main cause of illness among people who are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.

Crocidolite

Exposure to asbestos through inhalation is the most popular way people are exposed to dangerous fibres, which can then get into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma and asbestosis as well as other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos fibres can occur in different ways, such as contact with contaminated clothes or building materials. The dangers of exposure are more pronounced when crocidolite which is the blue form of asbestos is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to inhale and can lodge deeper in lung tissue. It has been linked to a higher number of mesothelioma-related cancers than any other type of asbestos.

The main types are chrysotile as well as amosite. The most commonly used forms of asbestos are chrysotile and epoxiemite, which together comprise the majority of commercial asbestos employed. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile however they could still be a risk when mixed with other minerals or when mined near other naturally occurring mineral deposits such as talc and vermiculite.

A number of studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. A number of studies have confirmed that asbestos exposure is linked to stomach. However, the evidence is contradictory. Certain researchers have reported an overall SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.7-3.6) for all workers exposed to asbestos, while 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 classed all Asbestos attorney types as carcinogenic. All types of asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as other health issues, but the risks vary according to the amount of exposure people are exposed to, the kind of asbestos used as well as the duration of exposure and the manner in which it is inhaled or ingested. IARC has stated that the best option for individuals is to stay clear of all types of asbestos. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from a respiratory illness or mesothelioma then you should see your physician or NHS111.

Amphibole

Amphiboles comprise a variety of minerals that may form needle-like or prism-like crystals. They are an inosilicate minerals made of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They typically possess a monoclinic crystal system however, some have an orthorhombic structure. 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. Tetrahedrons may be separated by strips of octahedral sites.

Amphiboles are found in metamorphic and igneous rock. They are typically dark and hard. They can be difficult to distinguish from pyroxenes due to their similar hardness and colors. They also share a corresponding cleavage. Their chemistry permits a wide range of compositions. The various mineral groups in amphibole can be identified by their chemical compositions as well as crystal structures.

The five types of asbestos belonging to the amphibole family are chrysotile, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite, asbestos attorney and actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has distinct characteristics. The most dangerous form of asbestos, crocidolite is made up of sharp fibers that are easy to inhale into the lung. Anthophyllite can be found in a brownish or yellowish hue and is made primarily of magnesium and iron. This type was used to make cement and insulation materials.

Amphibole minerals are challenging to analyze because they have a complex chemical structures and numerous substitutions. An in-depth analysis of the composition of amphibole minerals requires specialized methods. The most commonly used methods to identify amphiboles are EDS, WDS, and XRD. These methods are only able to provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hastingsite and magnesio hastingsite. Moreover, these techniques do not distinguish between ferro-hornblende or pargasite.