Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of asbestos are naturally formed as strings of pliable and durable fibres. They are resistant against flames, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They also have excellent tensile strength and wear. Asbestos can be found in a wide range of products including flooring tiles, insulation paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in 1980, Chrysotile (also called white asbestos) was the most widely used form of the mineral. This was due to the fact that it was cheap, durable and fireproof. However, it was found to be extremely risky and was linked to mesothelioma and other diseases. While some countries continue to employ asbestos, a complete worldwide ban is needed now.
Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic, and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered safe. However despite this, companies that mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they create is more safe than older forms of the mineral because it is tightly packed and not flammable.
This kind of asbestos is less harmful than the amphibole varieties of asbestos however, it is hazardous for people to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular type of asbestos mined. It is responsible for the majority mesothelioma cancer cases around the world. Chrysotile is a brown or golden yellow fibrous mineral that appears like threads and feels supple to the touch. Under an electron microscopy, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually a combination of structural layers of minerals which are rolled into spiral forms.
Chrysotile has been shown to be a cause of a variety of ailments such as pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and respiratory issues of other kinds. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. People who work with chrysotile are especially at risk for developing these illnesses because they are exposed to the mineral. Construction workers and auto repair are the most likely to encounter chrysotile asbestos because it was once very popular. It can be found in old homes and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six kinds of naturally occurring silicate fibrous minerals that were used as asbestos. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and properties, but all six are associated with increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the serpentine and amphibole minerals Chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Chrysotile asbestos is the most popular form of asbestos in the United States. It is still found today in the roofs, walls and floors of a variety of homes and businesses. It was also used for gaskets, thermal insulation, and boiler seals in automobiles. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile are shingles as well as cement sheets and pipe insulation.
Inhaling any asbestos-related substance is a risk. Exposure to asbestos in any form can cause lung cancer, pleural disease, and mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos is most often caused by inhalation, but it can also be triggered by handling or working with asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly hazardous if the materials are brittle. This means they are prone to break down easily and then become dust particles that are airborne.
Friability is related to the fibrillar thickness and their length. The longer and longer fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, whereas shorter and thinner fibres are less likely to do so.
The exposure to asbestos is most often when workers handle or remove it. Asbestos is a fine crystallized material that releases dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept or vacuumed it may release tiny fibres into the air. This is because a sweeping process can cause the fibres break apart and vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) is composed of long straight fibres that are brittle. They are also more harmful to inhale. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite, and crocidolite are the most well-known forms of amphibole. Other forms include anthophyllite or actinolite. These types of asbestos can be found in natural deposits containing chrysotile. Other asbestos minerals could be contaminants in crocidolite combined with chrysotile in the deposit.
Asbestos is used in a myriad of products including asbestos cement pipe and sheets and friction materials used in car brakes, gaskets, and coatings. The fibres are made into fabric, paper, thread, mastics, or bonded by Portland Cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres determine the most appropriate application. The shorter fibres are used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters, and flooring, while the longer ones are used for asbestos cement pipes, sheets, and flooring.
Numerous studies have shown the connection between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. These studies yield varied results, but the conclusions are skewed due to the lack of research. The risk of developing stomach cancer is believed to increase as a result of increasing exposure to asbestos. However, the effects are diminished when consideration of latency since first exposure is considered.
Other forms of asbestos have been implicated in the development of mesothelioma which is a malignant tumor that affects the lining of the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). It has been observed that children exposed to asbestos are more at chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reason for this is not known.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers caused by asbestos. It is caused by asbestos exposure over a long period of time and is more severe than any other asbestos-related illness. It can affect the lungs and sometimes other organs, such as the stomach or heart. It could also cause mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It was widely used in the construction industry and is found in a myriad of products.
Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of airborne asbestos. However, cicero asbestos lawyer that do develop illness are typically exposed frequently to asbestos while working in a particular work and typically for a prolonged time. The most severe exposures tend to be found in occupations such as mining, shipbuilding as well as construction and insulation. In recent years, government regulations helped to limit the use and amount of asbestos in construction sites. However, it is still present in older household products, such as children's toys and crayons.
All types of asbestos are carcinogenic and can cause lung ailments such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most commonly recognised kind of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing material is disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air and can be inhaled. These fibres can get trapped inside the lungs if inhaled. The asbestos fibres may cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This could result in mesothelioma, lung cancer or other diseases that can take a long time to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related illness include smoking and having a family history of the condition.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the production of insulation or in the construction of homes it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. The fibers can be inhaled, or swallowed and cause serious health conditions like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is the lining that protects organs. Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the lung lining and abdomen. In some cases, it could also develop on the linings of the heart or testicles.
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma owing to exposure to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma also can affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma may be difficult to identify because the symptoms aren't always specific and frequently resemble symptoms of more common diseases. Mesothelioma may be misdiagnosed and patients may not receive the treatment they require.
A visit to your doctor is the first step in 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 for contracting the disease.
Your doctor will determine which type of mesothelioma that you have once a mesothelioma is diagnosed. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most commonly diagnosed type of this disease, accounts for around 80 percent of mesothelioma cases 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. The type of mesothelioma will help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you. Treatment can improve your odds of surviving depending on the type and location of mesothelioma.