Types of Asbestos
The six varieties of amorphous asbestos can be found in nature as a bundle of thin and durable fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire as well as chemical and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent wear and tensile strength. Asbestos can be found in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation paint, as well as heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most commonly used form of the mineral. It was this because it was inexpensive, durable and fireproof. However, it was found to be extremely risky and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other illnesses. Some countries still use asbestos, but a global ban is required.
Health care professionals continue to warn of the fact that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and no amount of exposure is safe. However, despite this, companies that extract and sell chrysotile have claimed that the asbestos they mine is safer than earlier types of the mineral, because it is tightly packed and non-friable.
This type of asbestos is less hazardous than the amphibole asbestos types, but it is still hazardous for workers to work with. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common kind of asbestos mined and is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer cases around the world. Chrysotile, a brownish-golden mineral that feels soft and looks like threads is a fibrous mineral. Under an electron microscope, the fibres look more like tubes and are a result of structural layers of the mineral that are rolled in a spiral.
Chrysotile is known to trigger many illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. People who work with chrysotile have a greater chance of being at risk for developing these ailments because they have prolonged contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile used to be extensively employed in the construction industry and auto repair. It is often found in older vehicles and homes.
Amosite
There are six kinds of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were used as asbestos. Each mineral has a different chemical composition and properties. However 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 common asbestos type in the United States. Many homes and businesses have it in their walls, roofs and floors. It was also used in the manufacture of automobile brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals and thermal insulation. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles as well as cement sheets and pipe insulation.
All types of asbestos can be dangerous when inhaled. Inhaling asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease, and mesothelioma. Inhalation is the most common way to be exposed to asbestos. However, it can also occur when working with or handling the fibers. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly hazardous when the fibres are friable that is to say they break down easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.
Friability is a result of the length and thickness of the fibers. Thicker and longer fibers are more likely than shorter and shorter ones to penetrate into the lungs.
The most frequent method to expose workers to asbestos is by taking it off or handling it. Asbestos is a fine, crystallized substance that releases dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept it could release small fibres into the air. This is due to the fact that sweeping can cause fibres to break, while vacuuming makes them stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos, unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long straight fibres which are soft and brittle. They are also more hazardous to breathe in. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos) and tremolite (red asbestos) are the most commonly used amphibole asbestos. However, it can it is also found in other forms like anthophyllite and actinolite. These kinds of asbestos can be found in natural deposits along with chrysotile. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite deposits and could be mixed with chrysotile asbestos present in the deposits.
Asbestos is used in a myriad of products including asbestos cement pipes and sheets and friction materials used in car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres are woven into paper, fabric thread, mastics or bonded with Portland Cement, resins, or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine which is the best application. The shorter fibres are usually employed in textiles, electrical insulation and filters; while the longer fibres are utilized in asbestos cement sheets, pipes, flooring and sheets.
A variety of studies have reported an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. The results of these studies differ, however, and the conclusions are limited by the limited literature on this topic. In general, the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. The effect is reduced when latency from the first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos are involved in the development of mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the abdomen's lining as well as the chest). It has been observed that children exposed to asbestos are at greater risk of developing mesothelioma than adults. The reasons for this are not clear.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most frequently-assuaged diseases caused by asbestos. It can be caused by exposure to asbestos and is generally more serious than other types of asbestos-related illnesses. It affects the lungs, and sometimes other organs like the stomach, the heart and bladder. It may also cause mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is comprised of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is widely employed in construction and is present in a variety of products.
Most people aren't sick from the low levels of asbestos in the air. However, those who do get sick are usually exposed frequently to asbestos during a specific job and often for a longer period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be those in positions such as shipbuilding, mining construction, insulation and construction. In recent years, federal regulations have helped limit the use and amount of asbestos in construction sites. However, it is still present in older household items, like crayons for children and toys.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis among other illnesses. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely recognized type of asbestos. Other types of asbestos are amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed they release microscopic fibres which become airborne and can be inhaled. When inhaled, the fibres may become trapped deep inside the lungs. The asbestos fibers can cause scarring and inflammation of the lung. This could cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other diseases which can take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family history of asbestos-related illnesses are other factors that increase your chance of developing.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacturing of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are then taken in by swallowing or inhalation and cause serious health issues like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is a lining that protects organs. Mesothelioma is most often affecting the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In some cases, it could be found on the tissue of the heart or testicles.
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos at work. However, family members of asbestos workers are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma may be difficult to recognize because symptoms aren't specific and often mimic those of other diseases. Mesothelioma could be 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 take your medical history in detail and inquire about any previous asbestos exposure. This will help them determine if the risk of developing the disease is greater.
south carolina asbestos attorneys will determine which type of mesothelioma in your body once a mesothelioma is diagnosed. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most commonly encountered form of the 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. It is composed of epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cells. Your doctor will determine the best treatment for you in light of the type of mesothelioma. Treatment can increase your odds of surviving, depending on the nature and the location of mesothelioma.