Types of Asbestos
All six types of amorphous asbestos are found in nature as bundles of fine, durable fibres. They are resistant against fire, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They possess a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos has been used in a variety of products such as floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile is also known as white asbestos, was the most common form of the mineral that was used in a variety of products prior to its ban in the 1980s. It was this because it was affordable, durable and fireproof. However, it was also discovered to be extremely hazardous and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other illnesses. Certain countries still make use of asbestos but a global ban is needed.
Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile, is carcinogenic, and that any amount of exposure can be considered safe. However despite this, businesses who mine and sell chrysotile say that the asbestos they produce is safer than older types of the mineral due to the fact that it is tightly packed and non-friable.
Although this kind of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole asbestos, it is still extremely dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most frequently mined asbestos and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases worldwide. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous material that appears like threads and feels soft to the touch. Under an electron microscope the fibers appear like tubes and are composed of structural layers of the mineral rolled in spiral form.
Chrysotile has been found to cause a variety of ailments that include pleural mesothelioma lung cancer and other respiratory problems. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. Those who work with chrysotile are particularly susceptible to developing these diseases because they are exposed to the mineral. People who work in construction and automobile repair are most likely to come across Chrysotile asbestos because it was once quite well-known. It can be found in older homes and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is made from six different kinds of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties, but all six are linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. These include amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile, the crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite, Tremolite anthophyllite, tremolite, and anthophyllite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known asbestos type in the United States. Many businesses and homes have it in their roofs, walls, and floors. It is also used in automotive brake gaskets, linings, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain chrysotile are shingles, cement sheets and pipe insulation.
All types of asbestos can be dangerous if inhaled. Exposure to asbestos in any form can cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is often caused by inhalation, however, it can also be caused through the handling or work with fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous when the asbestos is friable that is to say they break down easily and may be inhaled as dust particles.
Friability is a function of length and thickness of the fibers. Longer and thicker fibres are more likely to penetrate deeper into the lungs, whereas thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do so.
The most common method to expose workers to asbestos is through handling or removing asbestos. This is due to asbestos being a fine material and can be released into the air as dust when it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed it could release small fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping process can cause the fibres break up when vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) amphibole asbestos is composed of long, straight chain-like fibers that are brittle and more dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) as well as amosite (brown asbestos) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most common amphibole asbestos. However, yakima asbestos attorney there are other forms such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos can be found in natural deposits along with the chrysotile. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos found in the deposit.
Asbestos can be found in a variety products, including asbestos cement pipe sheets, sheets, friction materials used for coatings, brakes, and gaskets. The fibres can be weaved into paper, fabrics, mastics or threads, or joined with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The size and length of the fibres determine the best application. The shorter fibres can be utilized for electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while the longer ones are used for asbestos sheets, cement pipes, and flooring.
Numerous studies have revealed an association between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. These studies have varied results however, the conclusions are not conclusive due to the absence of research. The risk of developing cancer of the stomach appears to increase with increasing cumulative exposure to asbestos. The risk is lessened when the latency of the first exposure is taken into account.
Other types of asbestos have been linked in the formation of mesothelioma, a malignant tumour that affects the abdomen and chest (Mesothelioma). It has been discovered that children who are exposed to asbestos are more at chance of developing mesothelioma, compared to adults. The reasons behind this are not clear.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one the most prevalent illnesses caused by asbestos. It can be result of long-term exposure to asbestos, and is usually more severe than other forms of asbestos-related diseases. It affects the lungs, and occasionally other organs like the stomach, heart, and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma. an uncommon cancer that affects the lung the lining.
Asbestos belongs to a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It was widely employed in construction and is found in a myriad of products.
Most people don't become sick from the low levels of asbestos in the air. However, those that do develop illness are typically exposed on a regular basis to asbestos during a specific job, and often for a long period of time. The most severe exposures tend to be those in positions like shipbuilding, mining construction, and insulation. In recent years, government regulations have helped limit the use and prevalence of asbestos in buildings. However, it is still present in older household products like crayons for children and toys.
All forms of asbestos could cause lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis among other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely recognized form of asbestos. Crocidolite as well as Amphibole are forms of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air and could be inhaled. When inhaled, these fibers could become trapped in the lung. The asbestos fibres can then cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This could result in lung carcinoma, mesothelioma, or other illnesses that can take years to develop. Other factors that increase the chances of developing an asbestos-related disease include smoking and having an ancestral history of the condition.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used for the production of insulation or in the construction of homes and buildings, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. The fibers can be taken in by swallowing or inhalation and can cause serious health issues, such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the organ's lining called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is typically found in the linings of the lungs and abdomen. In some instances it can also occur in the lining of the heart (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma because of exposure at work. Mesothelioma also can affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult identify because the symptoms aren't always specific and often resemble those of other diseases. This is why mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and patients may not receive the treatment they need.
A visit to your doctor is the first step to diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will conduct an entire medical history and inquire about any previous asbestos exposure. This will enable them to determine if your chance of developing the disease is greater.
Once the mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed by your doctor, they will determine what kind of mesothelioma is present. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of this disease, accounts to around 80% of mesothelioma-related diagnoses every year. Other types include peritoneal as well as rare biphasic mesothelioma which contains epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma that you are diagnosed with will help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you. Based on your location as well as the type of mesothelioma you have, treatment can help increase your chances of survival.