Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos naturally form bundles of pliable and thin fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire, chemicals and electrical conductivity. They have a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos is used in a wide range of products, including flooring tiles, insulation, paint and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also called white asbestos) was the most commonly used form of the mineral. This was due to the fact that it was inexpensive, durable and fireproof. However, it was also found to be extremely risky and linked to mesothelioma and other diseases. Some countries still employ asbestos, but a global ban is needed.
Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic, and no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. However despite this, companies who mine and sell chrysotile say that the asbestos they create is more secure than older varieties of the mineral due to the fact that it is tightly packed and not flammable.
This type of asbestos is less hazardous than the amphibole asbestos types, but it is still hazardous for workers to handle. Chrysotile is the most commonly mined asbestos and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile is a golden or brown yellow fibrous mineral that looks like threads, and feels soft to the touch. In an electron microscope, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually a mixture of structural layers of minerals rolled into spiral form.
Chrysotile has been proven to cause a range of ailments which include pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer and other respiratory problems. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and digestive issues. Those who work with chrysotile are especially susceptible to developing these ailments because they have prolonged contact with the mineral. Asbestos was once extensively used in construction and auto repair. It could be found in older vehicles and homes.
Amosite
There are six types of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were used as asbestos. Each mineral has its particular chemical composition and characteristics and all six are linked to increased risk of mesothelioma. These include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile, Crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite (white asbestos), tremolite anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular form of asbestos in the United States. Many homes and businesses have it in their roofs, walls, and floors. It was also used in brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles or cement sheets as well as pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos pose dangers when inhaled. The exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos is most often caused by breathing, but it can also be triggered through handling or working with fibres. Exposure to asbestos is especially hazardous when materials are fragile. This means they are susceptible to crumbling easily and then become dust particles in the air.
Friability is a function length and the thickness of the fibers. The longer and more dense fibers are more likely than thinner and shorter ones to penetrate deeply into the lungs.
The most popular method to expose workers to asbestos is through taking it off or handling asbestos. This is because asbestos is an extremely fine material that can be released into the air as dust when it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept, it may release small fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping process can cause the fibres to break up, while vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
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As opposed to serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), the amphibole asbestos has long, straight chain-like fibres that are brittle and more dangerous when inhaled. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite or actinolite. These kinds of asbestos are often found in natural deposits, along with chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite deposits and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposits.
Asbestos is found in many products, including asbestos cement pipe sheets, sheets, friction materials used in coatings, brakes, and gaskets. The fibres are woven into paper, fabric, mastics, thread, or bound by Portland Cement, resins, or plastics. The length and size of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres can be used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters, and flooring, whereas the longer ones are utilized for asbestos sheets, pipes, and flooring.
A number of studies have reported an association between exposure to asbestos and cancer of the stomach. These studies yield varied results however, the conclusions are limited due to the lack of evidence. In general, the risk of stomach cancer increases as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effect is diminished when consideration of latency in the time since first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos have been linked in the development of mesothelioma an aggressive cancer that affects the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). Children who are exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reason for this is unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most common asbestos-related illness. It is result of long-term exposure to asbestos and is typically more severe than other forms of asbestos disease. It affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the stomach, heart, and bladder. It could also cause mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs.
Asbestos is a class of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It was extensively employed in construction and is present in many different products.
Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of airborne asbestos. People who do develop illness are often exposed to asbestos on a regular basis at a particular job and for a long period of time. The most common jobs that require asbestos are shipbuilding, mining and construction. In recent years, federal regulations have reduced the use of asbestos and it is now found in fewer structures. It is still in some older household products, such as children's toys and crayons.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other illnesses. Chrysotile is the most well-known type of asbestos. Crocidolite as well as Amphibole are forms of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air, and they can be inhaled. These fibres can get trapped in the lungs when inhaled. The asbestos fibres may cause scarring and inflammation of the lung. This can lead to lung carcinoma, mesothelioma, or other diseases that may take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family history of asbestos-related diseases are two factors that increase your chance of developing.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacture of insulation or in the construction of homes and buildings, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. The fibers are later taken in by swallowing or inhalation and cause serious health conditions such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that is found in the organ's lining known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is typically found in the lung linings and the abdomen. In certain cases, it may also develop on the tissues of the heart or testicles.
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma due to exposure at work. However, family members of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. It can be difficult to determine mesothelioma as the symptoms are not specific and are often similar to symptoms of other diseases. This is why mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed, and victims may not receive the treatment they require.
A visit to your doctor is the first step towards diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history as well as any asbestos exposure. This will help them determine if you are at an increased risk for contracting the disease.
Your doctor will determine the type of mesothelioma you suffer from once mesothelioma is identified. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most prevalent form of this disease, and accounts for around 80% of all mesothelioma diagnosis each year. The other two kinds are peritoneal mesothelioma, and a rare biphasic form of mesothelioma. This type contains epithelioid and sarcomatoid cell types. Your doctor will determine the best course of action for you based on the type of mesothelioma. Treatment may increase your chance of surviving depending on the nature and location of your mesothelioma.