gainesville asbestos lawsuit of Exposure to Asbestos
Asbestos was a component in thousands of commercial products prior to when it was banned. According to studies, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer, as well as other health problems.
It is difficult to tell if something is asbestos-containing simply by looking at it and you are unable to taste or smell it. It can only be found in the event that asbestos-containing products are drilled, chipped or broken.
Chrysotile
At its peak, chrysotile made up for 99percent of the asbestos made. It was utilized in a variety of industries including construction, insulation, and fireproofing. If workers are exposed to asbestos, they are likely to develop mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related illnesses. Fortunately, the use of this hazardous mineral has declined significantly since awareness of mesothelioma began to spread in the 1960's. However, trace amounts of it remain in common products that we use today.
Chrysotile is safe to use provided you have a comprehensive safety and handling plan in place. It has been found that at the present exposure levels, there is no undue risk to the workers working with the substance. Inhaling airborne fibres has been found to be strongly linked with lung cancer and lung fibrosis. This has been proven for intensity (dose) as well as duration of exposure.
In one study mortality rates were compared between a manufacturing facility which used largely Chrysotile in the production of friction materials and national death rates. The study revealed that after 40 years of processing at low levels of chrysotile, there was no significant increase in mortality in this factory.
As opposed to other forms of asbestos, chrysotile fibers tend to be smaller. They can penetrate the lungs, and then pass through the bloodstream. They are therefore more likely to cause health problems than longer fibres.
When chrysotile is mixed into cement, it is very difficult for the fibres to be airborne and pose any health risks. Fibre cement products are extensively used all over the world particularly in structures like hospitals and schools.
Research has shown that chrysotile is less prone to cause illness than amphibole asbestos like crocidolite and amosite. These amphibole types are the main cause of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. When the cement and chrysotile are combined, a durable, flexible product is created that is able to stand up to extreme environmental hazards and weather conditions. It is also simple to clean after use. Professionals can safely get rid of asbestos fibres after they have been removed.
Amosite
Asbestos is a grouping of fibrous silicates that are found in certain types rock formations. It is comprised of six main groups: serpentine, amphibole, tremolite, anthophyllite and crocidolite (IARC 1973).
Asbestos minerals comprise thin, long fibers that vary in length from fine to broad. They can also be curled or straight. These fibres can be found in nature in bundles or as individual fibrils. Asbestos minerals can also be found as a powder (talc) or mixed with other minerals and sold as vermiculite and talcum powder and are used in consumer products like baby powder cosmetics, face powder and other.
The largest use of asbestos occurred in the first two-thirds period of the twentieth century when it was utilized in shipbuilding, insulation, fireproofing and other construction materials. The majority of occupational exposures involved asbestos fibres borne by air, but some workers were exposed vermiculite and talc that had been contaminated and to pieces of asbestos-bearing rock (ATSDR, 2001). Exposures varied by industry, time period and geographic location.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace is mostly due to inhalation. However certain workers have been exposed through skin contact or by eating food items contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is currently only found in the environment from the natural weathering of mined minerals and the deterioration of products contaminated with asbestos like insulation, car brakes, clutches, and floor and ceiling tiles.
There is emerging evidence that amphibole fibres from non-commercial sources could also be carcinogenic. They are not tightly woven like the fibrils found in amphibole and serpentine but are instead loose and flexible, and needle-like. These fibers are found in the mountains and cliffs in a variety of countries.
Asbestos is able to enter the environment in many ways, including as airborne particles. It can also be released into soil or water. This can be caused by natural (weathering and erosion of asbestos-bearing rocks) and human-caused (disintegration and removal of asbestos-containing wastes from landfill sites) sources. Asbestos contamination of surface and ground water is typically a result of natural weathering, however it has also been caused by anthropogenic activities like mining and milling, demolition and dispersal of asbestos-containing material and the disposal of contaminated dumping soils in landfills (ATSDR 2001). Asbestos fibres that are emitted from the air are the most significant reason for illness among those exposed to asbestos in their work.
Crocidolite
Inhalation exposure to asbestos is the most frequent way people are exposed to the dangerous fibres, which can be absorbed into the lungs and cause serious health issues. Mesothelioma as well as asbestosis and other diseases are caused by asbestos fibres. The exposure to asbestos can happen in other ways as well like contact with contaminated clothing or building materials. The dangers of this kind of exposure are more pronounced when crocidolite (the blue form of asbestos, is involved. Crocidolite is a smaller, more fragile fibers that are easy to breathe and can be lodged deeper in lung tissue. It has been associated with a higher number of mesothelioma cases than any other type of asbestos.
The six major types are chrysotile, amosite and chrysotile. The most popular forms of asbestos are epoxiemite and chrysotile, which together comprise 95% all commercial asbestos used. The other four asbestos types are not as widespread, but they can still be found in older structures. They are less hazardous than amosite or chrysotile but still pose a threat when combined with other minerals or when mined close to other mineral deposits, such as vermiculite and talc.
Many studies have discovered an connection between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. Several studies have found a link between asbestos exposure and stomach. The evidence isn't unanimous. Some researchers have cited an SMR (standardized mortality ratio) of 1.5 (95 percent of the time CI: 0.7-3.6) for all asbestos-related workers and others have reported an SMR of 1.24 (95% of the CI = 0.76-2.5) for workers working in chrysotile mining and mills.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classed all asbestos types as carcinogenic. All asbestos types can cause mesothelioma, however the risks differ based on the amount of exposure, what type of asbestos is involved and how long exposure lasts. The IARC has advised that abstaining from all asbestos forms should be the highest priority because this is the best option for people. If someone has been exposed to asbestos in the past and suffer from an illness such as mesothelioma, or other respiratory diseases They should seek advice from their GP or NHS 111.
Amphibole
Amphibole is a group of minerals that form long prisms or needlelike crystals. They are a type of inosilicate mineral composed of double chains of SiO4 molecules. They have a monoclinic arrangement of crystals, however some have an orthorhombic structure. The general formula of an amphibole is A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F)2. The double chains are composed of (Si, Al)O4 tetrahedrons linked together in a ring of six tetrahedrons. Tetrahedrons can be separated by strips of octahedral sites.
Amphibole minerals can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are usually dark and hard. Due to their similarity in strength and color, they can be difficult for some people to distinguish from pyroxenes. They also share a corresponding pattern of cleavage. Their chemistry allows for a variety of compositions. The chemical compositions and crystal structures of the various mineral groups in amphibole could be used to identify them.
The five asbestos types in the amphibole family include amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite. They also include actinolite. Each kind of asbestos has distinct characteristics. Crocidolite is among the most dangerous asbestos type. It has sharp fibers that can be easily breathed into the lungs. Anthophyllite is a brownish to yellowish hue and is comprised primarily of magnesium and iron. This kind of stone was used to create cement and insulation materials.
Amphiboles are a challenge to analyze because of their complex chemical structure and numerous substitutions. A thorough analysis of composition of amphibole minerals requires special methods. EDS, WDS and XRD are the most common methods for identifying amphiboles. These methods can only provide approximate identifications. These techniques, for instance cannot differentiate between magnesio hornblende and magnesio hastingsite. These techniques also cannot distinguish between ferro-hornblende and pargasite.