Types of Asbestos
All six types of asbestos occur naturally as strings of pliable and durable fibres. They are resistant against flames, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They also have exceptional wear and tensile strength. Asbestos is used in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also called white asbestos) was the most widely used form of the mineral. It was used because it was fireproof, inexpensive and durable. However, it was also found to be extremely dangerous and associated with mesothelioma, as well as other diseases. While arlington heights asbestos law firm use asbestos, a total worldwide ban is now required.
Health care professionals continue to warn that asbestos in all forms, including chrysotile. carcinogenic, and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered safe. However despite this, the companies who mine and sell chrysotile say that the asbestos they create is safer than older types of the mineral since it is tightly packed and non-friable.
This type of asbestos is less hazardous than the amphibole types of asbestos, but it is still hazardous for workers to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common type of asbestos mined and is responsible for the majority mesothelioma cancer cases in the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that is soft and appears like threads is a fibrous minerals. In an electron microscope, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually composed of structural layers of minerals that have been that are rolled into a spiral shape.
Chrysotile is known to trigger various illnesses, such as pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has also been linked with gastrointestinal issues and cardiovascular disease. Those who work with chrysotile are particularly susceptible to developing these illnesses because they are in constant contact with the mineral. Construction workers and repair of vehicles are the most likely to encounter Chrysotile asbestos since it was once very well-known. It is often found in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six kinds of naturally occurring silicate fibrous minerals that have been used in asbestos. Each mineral has a different chemical composition and physical properties. However each of them is associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. They include the serpentine and amphibole minerals Chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite. They also include amosite, anthophyllite and tremolite.
Chrysotile is the most popular asbestos type in the United States. Many homes and businesses still have it on their walls, roofs and floors. It was also used for gaskets, thermal insulation, and boiler seals in automobiles. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile are shingles, cement sheet and pipe insulation.
All types of asbestos can be dangerous if inhaled. Inhaling asbestos in any form can cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Inhalation is by far the most common way to be exposed to asbestos, but it can also occur when working with or handling the asbestos fibres. The risk of exposure is particularly high if the materials are friable which means they can break easily and can be airborne as dust particles.
Friability is a result of the length and the thickness of the fibers. Longer and thicker fibres are more likely to penetrate into the lungs, while shorter and thinner fibres are less likely to do this.
The most common way to expose workers to asbestos is through taking it off or handling asbestos. This is because asbestos is 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 can release tiny fibres into the air. This is because sweeping may cause fibres to break when vacuuming them, whereas sweeping 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 hazardous to inhale. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and Tremolite (red asbestos) are the most popular amphibole asbestos. However, they also exist in different forms, such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These types of asbestos can be found in natural deposits that contain chrysotile. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are also contaminants in crocidolite deposits, and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposit.
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 weaved into paper, fabric thread, mastics, or bound by Portland Cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine their best application. The shorter fibres are utilized for electrical insulation, filters, and flooring, while the longer ones are utilized for asbestos cement pipes, sheets, and flooring.
A number of studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and cancer of the stomach. The findings of these studies differ however, and the conclusions are influenced due to the lack of research on the subject. Generally, the risk for stomach cancer is believed to increase with increasing cumulative exposure to asbestos. The risk is decreased when the time from the initial exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos can be implicated in the development of mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the abdomen's lining and chest). It has been discovered that children who are exposed to asbestos are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reasons are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent ailments caused by asbestos. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and is typically more serious than other types of asbestos disease. It affects the lungs and sometimes other organs such as the stomach, the heart and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma which is an uncommon cancer that affects the lung lining.
Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It is found in many different products. It was once widely used in construction, but has since been banned due to its ill effects.
The majority of people don't get sick from a low amount of asbestos in the air. People who do get sick are often exposed to asbestos on a regular basis in a specific occupation and over a long period of time. The heaviest exposures tend to be in jobs such as shipbuilding, mining construction, and insulation. In recent years, government regulations have reduced the use and amount of asbestos in construction sites. Some household products from the past like crayons and children's toys, still contain asbestos.
All forms of asbestos could cause lung ailments such as mesothelioma or asbestosis as well as other illnesses. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely recognized type of asbestos. Amphibole and Crocidolite are also forms of asbestos.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, they release microscopic fibres which are then airborne and inhaled. These fibres may get caught in the lungs after inhalation. The asbestos fibres may cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This can result in lung cancer, mesothelioma or other illnesses that may take a long time 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 in the manufacture of insulation or in the construction of homes and buildings, it releases tiny asbestos fibers into air. Those fibers can then be swallowed or inhaled and can cause serious health issues like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium, the lining that covers organs. Mesothelioma is typically found in the tissues of the lungs and abdomen. In some cases it can also be found in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).
Asbestos patients are more likely to develop mesothelioma as result of their exposure at work. Mesothelioma can also affect the family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult diagnose because symptoms aren't specific and often mimic those of more common diseases. As a result, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and patients may not receive the treatment they require.
A visit to your doctor is the first step to diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor will conduct an entire medical history and inquire about your previous asbestos exposure. This will enable them to determine if your likelihood of developing the disease is higher.
Your doctor will determine the type of mesothelioma that you have once mesothelioma is identified. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed type of this disease, accounts for approximately 80% of mesothelioma-related diagnoses every year. The other two types are peritoneal mesothelioma and a rare biphasic version of mesothelioma, which contains both sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells. The type of mesothelioma you have will help your doctor decide on the most appropriate treatment options for you. Treatment may increase your chance of survival based on the type and location of mesothelioma.