Types of Asbestos
All six types of amorphous asbestos are found in nature as a bundle of thin, durable fibres. They are resistant to heat, chemicals, fire and electrical conductivity. They possess a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos is used in a variety of products, including floor tiles and insulation, paint, and heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most commonly used form of the mineral. This was due to the fact that it was affordable, durable, and fireproof. It was later discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to mesothelioma and other cancers. While some countries continue to use asbestos, a worldwide ban is now required.
Health care experts continue to warn that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. However, despite this, companies who extract and sell chrysotile have claimed that the asbestos they produce is safer than earlier types of the mineral, because it is tightly packed and unfriable.
This kind of asbestos is less harmful than the amphibole types of asbestos, but it is still hazardous for workers to handle. Chrysotile asbestos lawsuit is the most commonly used type of asbestos mined, and is the main cause of mesothelioma cancer cases across the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that feels soft and looks like threads, is a fibrous mineral. Through electron microscopy, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually composed of structural layers of the minerals that are rolled into a spiral shape.
Chrysotile has been shown to be the cause of many illnesses such as pleural mesothelioma lung cancer, and respiratory issues of other kinds. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal issues. These illnesses are more prevalent in those who work with chrysotile due to of their frequent exposure to it. Asbestos chrysotile was previously extensively used in construction and auto repair. It is often found in older houses and vehicles.
Amosite
Asbest is composed of six types of fibrous silicate minerals. Each mineral has a distinct chemical composition and properties. However, all six are associated with a higher risk of mesothelioma. These include amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile and crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite (white asbestos), tremolite anthophyllite, and tremolite.
Chrysotile is one of the most commonly used kind of asbestos found in the United States. It can still be found in the roofs, walls and floors of a variety of buildings and homes. It is also used in automotive brake gaskets, linings, boiler seals, thermal insulation and sealing. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile include cement sheets, shingles and pipe insulation.
All forms of asbestos are dangerous if inhaled. Exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural diseases and mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is commonly caused by inhalation, however, it can also be caused through handling or working with asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly hazardous when the fibres are friable, which means they crumble easily and may be inhaled as dust particles.
Friability is a function of length and thickness of the fibers. The longer and longer fibres are more likely to penetrate deep into the lungs, while thinner and shorter fibres are less likely to do this.
Exposure to asbestos occurs most often when workers remove or handle it. Asbestos is a fine, crystallized substance that releases dust into the air when crushed or sanded. When asbestos is swept up or vacuumed, it may release tiny fibres in the air. This is because a sweeping process can cause the fibres break apart, while vacuuming causes them to stick to other surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos, unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long straight fibres that are soft and asbestos brittle. They are also more dangerous to inhale. Crocidolite (blue asbestos lawyer), amosite (brown asbestos) and tremolite (red asbestos) are the most well-known amphibole asbestos. However, it can there are different forms, such as anthophyllite and actinolite. These asbestos types can be found in natural deposits that contain chrysotile. It is believed that these other asbestos minerals are contaminants in crocidolite deposits and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposit.
Asbestos can be found in many products, including asbestos cement pipe sheets, friction materials used in coatings, car brakes and gaskets. The fibres can be woven into paper, fabrics, mastics and threads or bound with Portland cement resins or plastics. The size and length of the fibres determines the best application. The shorter fibres are used for textiles, electrical insulation, filters and flooring, whereas the longer ones are used for asbestos sheets, cement pipes, and flooring.
A variety of studies have suggested a link between asbestos exposure and stomach cancer. These studies yield varied results however, the conclusions are skewed due to the lack of evidence. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. The effect is reduced when the time period from the initial exposure is taken into consideration.
Other forms of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant tumor that affects the lining of the abdomen and chest). It has been found that children exposed to asbestos are at a higher chance of developing mesothelioma compared to adults. The reasons are unknown.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the most frequent 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 affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the stomach, heart, and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma, an uncommon cancer that affects lung and lining.
Asbestos is composed of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is widely employed in the construction industry and is found in a variety of different products.
Most people don’t become sick from the low levels of asbestos in the air. People who do develop illness are usually exposed to asbestos on a regular basis at a particular job and over a long period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be found in occupations such as mining, shipbuilding construction, and insulation. In recent years, regulations from the government have helped limit the use of and the presence of asbestos in buildings. It is still in some older household products, such as crayons and toys for asbestos kids.
All forms of asbestos can cause lung ailments such as mesothelioma or asbestosis as well as other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known form of asbestos legal. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air and can be inhaled. Inhaling these fibres, they could become trapped in the lungs. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lung. This could lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma or other illnesses that may take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family history of asbestos-related diseases are two factors that increase your risk.
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. The fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is a lining that protects organs. Mesothelioma tends to be found in the lung lining and abdomen. In some cases it can also be found in the lining of the heart (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).
Asbestos workers are more likely to develop mesothelioma because of exposure at work. Mesothelioma can also be a problem for family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma may be difficult to recognize because symptoms aren’t specific and frequently resemble symptoms of other diseases. Mesothelioma may be misdiagnosed and victims may not get the treatment they require.
A visit to your doctor is the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. The doctor will take an entire medical history and ask about your past asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if you are at an increased risk of contracting disease.
When the mesothelioma diagnose is established, your doctor will determine what type of mesothelioma you are suffering from. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly encountered form of the disease and accounts for approximately 88% of all mesothelioma diagnoses each year. The other two types are peritoneal and a rare biphasic version of mesothelioma. This type contains epithelioid as well as sarcomatoid cells. The type of mesothelioma that you are diagnosed with will help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you. Depending on your location and the type of mesothelioma you have, treatment can increase your chances of surviving.