Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos naturally form strings of pliable and durable fibres. They are resistant to heat, fire as well as chemical and electrical conductivity. They have a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos is used in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation paint, as well as fabric that is heat-resistant.
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 popular because it was fireproof, affordable and durable. However, it was found to be extremely risky and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other illnesses. While some countries still use asbestos, a total global ban is now needed.
Health care professionals continue to warn people that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile, is carcinogenic, and that any amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. However, despite this, companies that mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they make is more safe than older forms of the mineral due to the fact that it is tightly packed and non-friable.
This type of asbestos is less hazardous than the amphibole types of asbestos however it is dangerous for workers to handle. Chrysotile is the most frequently mined asbestos and the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile which is a brownish golden mineral that is soft and appears like threads is a fibrous minerals. Under an electron microscope, the fibers appear more like tubes and are a result of structural layers of the mineral, rolled in spiral form.
Chrysotile is known to trigger numerous diseases, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal issues. These diseases are more common for those who work with chrysotile because of their constant exposure to it. Construction workers and auto repair are the most likely to encounter chrysotile asbestos because it was once very well-known. It can be found in older buildings and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is made up of six types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and physical properties. However they are all associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. These include the amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile, crocidolite (white asbestos), amosite, tremolite anthophyllite and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most common asbestos type in the United States. Many businesses and homes have it on their walls, roofs, and floors. It is also used in brake linings, gaskets, boiler seals and thermal insulation. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile include shingles, cement sheets, and pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos are dangerous when inhaled. Exposure to any form of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma or lung cancer as well as other conditions of the pleura. Inhalation is the most common way to be exposed to asbestos, however it can also occur when working with or handling asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos is especially hazardous when materials are fragile. This means that they can crumble easily, and then become airborne dust particles.
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 deeper into the lungs.
Exposure to asbestos occurs most often when workers handle or remove it. Asbestos is a very fine, crystalline material that can release dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept, it may release small fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping motion can cause the fibres break up and vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile), has long straight fibres that are brittle. They are also more harmful to inhale. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and Crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite or actinolite. These kinds of asbestos are commonly found in natural deposits, along with the chrysotile asbestos. It is believed that the other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite deposits and may be mixed with chrysotile asbestos present in the deposit.
Asbestos is used in a myriad of products including asbestos cement pipes and sheets, friction materials for car brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres are woven into paper, fabric mastics, thread, or bonded by Portland Cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres determine the best application. The shorter fibres are utilized for electrical insulation, filters and flooring, whereas longer fibres are used for asbestos sheets, cement pipes, and flooring.
A variety of studies have suggested a link between exposure to asbestos and cancer of the stomach. The results of these studies are varied, but the conclusions are limited because of the absence of evidence. In general the risk of stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the impact is diminished when the length of time from the first exposure is considered.
Other types of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the abdomen's lining as well as the chest). It has been found that children exposed to asbestos are at a higher chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reasons behind this are not known.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most prevalent asbestos-related illness. It is caused by exposure to asbestos over a prolonged period of time, and is more serious than any other asbestos-related illness. It can affect the lungs, and, occasionally, other organs like the stomach or the heart. It is also a cause of mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lung.
Asbestos is comprised of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is present in a variety of different products and was once extensively used in construction however, it has been withdrawn due to its harmful effects.
Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of asbestos in the air. However, philadelphia asbestos attorney that do become ill are usually exposed frequently to asbestos in a specific work and typically for a prolonged time. The most intense exposures tend to be in jobs like shipbuilding, mining construction, insulation and construction. In recent years, government regulations have helped reduce the use of asbestos and it is now found in fewer structures. It is still in some older household items, like children's toys and crayons.
All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic and can cause lung diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases. Chrysotile is the most commonly recognized form of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed they release microscopic fibers that are then airborne and inhaled. When inhaled, these fibres can be trapped deep within the lung. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer or other illnesses that may take years to develop. Smoking and having a family history of asbestos-related ailments are additional factors that increase the chance of developing.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the manufacture of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. The fibers can be consumed or swallowed which can lead to serious health issues, such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the lining of organs called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the linings of the lungs and abdomen. In some cases, it could be found on the tissues of the heart, or testicles.
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma owing to exposure at work. Mesothelioma can also affect the family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma is difficult to detect because symptoms aren't precise and frequently resemble symptoms of more common diseases. Mesothelioma could be misdiagnosed and patients may not receive the treatment they require.
A visit to your doctor is the first step towards diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will collect an entire medical history and inquire about any previous asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if you're an increased risk of contracting the disease.
When the mesothelioma diagnose is established, your doctor will determine what type of mesothelioma you are suffering from. Pleural mesothelioma (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 has epithelioid aswell as sarcomatoid cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma will help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you. Depending on your location and the type of mesothelioma that you are suffering from, treatment can increase your chances of surviving.