ASBESTOS

Asbestos :

Asbestos is a gristly mineral that is in chemical nature inert with added heat defiant properties. It has been utilized in over a wide spec of products of more than 3,000 products, counting fire resisting materials, cement, brake pads, plastics, paper products and textile products.

There are 2 forms of very usually used Asbestos, Serpentine and Amphibole. The Serpentine range of asbestos is termed as Chrysotile, where in turn the Amphibole range contains Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite and Tremolite.

Archetypal asbestos mining in the United States used open pit extraction followed by the milling process. Max out manufacture of asbestos in the United States was way over the 299 million pounds/year capacity in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Production deceased to 112 million pounds/year in 1987, to 37 million pounds/year in 1989, it stepped down to 30 million pounds/year in 1993, even to 15.4 million pounds/year in 1997, and as low as 13.2 million pounds/year in 1998 and 1999.

Where do they form Asbestos :

Asbestos is naturally found in certain rock formations, mostly in the form of long, thin fibers. It is most commonly found in metamorphic rocks, such as serpentinite and schist. Asbestos is also found in some sedimentary rocks such as limestone, shale, and sandstone. Asbestos can also form in hydrothermal veins, as a result of the interaction between hot water and certain minerals.

Aluminium

Asbestos are fibrous, naturally happening hydrated silicates that have long been mined and used for their fire-retardant and insulating properties as construction materials. Asbestos can be found in amphibole and serpentine forms. 95% of the asbestos mined globally is in a serpentine form of chrysotile type, with fibres that are long and curly. Amphibole forms of asbestos may be of amosite, crocidolite or anthophyllite types, and are shorter and straighter than serpentine varieties. According to the Stanton Hypothesis, amphibole fibres were originally thought to pose less risk, but these fibres were then linked to increased rates of mesothelioma.

Dr. Montague Murray first recognized the negative health effects of asbestos in 1899. However, dust control legislation for mines was not enacted in North America until 1971. In the middle years, mining and use of asbestos improved dramatically by 120-fold, peaking upon the enaction of legislation in 1971, and decreasing exponentially until the present. The current decreases in the rate of mining are due to public health concerns and to the increasingly more restrictive standards placed upon the level of asbestos dust allowed in mines, from 5 fibres/cm3 in 1971 to 1 fibres/cm3 at present although the global levels of asbestos mined have decreased significantly, Canada continues to be one of the world's foremost producers. 2.4-105 tonnes were mined in Canada in 2003, which accounted for much of the world's production of asbestos.

Process Of Asbestos :

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a wide variety of products and building materials due to its strength and heat resistance. The process of asbestos elaboration involves the mining, processing and manufacturing of products containing asbestos.

Mining: Asbestos ore is mined from the ground and then transported to a processing plant for further refinement. At the processing plant, the ore is crushed and sorted into various grades according to size and quality.

Processing: The asbestos is then processed into a variety of forms, such as a powder, thread, or felt. This process may involve chemical treatments, such as bleaching and acid washing, to remove impurities from the asbestos.

Manufacturing: The processed asbestos is then used in the manufacturing of products such as insulation, roofing shingles, cement, floor tiles, brake pads, and ceiling tiles. The asbestos may also be mixed with other substances to make fireproof fabrics, cement, and plaster.

Disposal: Asbestos products that are no longer in use must be disposed of properly. This involves special handling and disposal methods to ensure that the asbestos fibers do not spread and cause health risks.

What are the health effects of asbestos exposure?

Exposure to airborne friable asbestos may result in a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including: asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.

Adverse health effects from exposure to asbestos remain a serious concern to miners, mining communities and residents of buildings that contain asbestos. Miners and mining communities are at the greatest risk from asbestos related diseases, but are better ready to limit their exposure to asbestos than homeowners who are unknowingly breathing in asbestos. There is a time lag of 15 to 40 years between exposure and asbestos-caused disease for both residents and miners, which often makes it difficult to relate historical exposure to current symptoms. Asbestos has far-reaching and long-lasting impacts for human health, both through occupational and environmental exposure.

Aluminium

Types of Asbestos :

There are six types of asbestos fibers: Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite.

Chrysotile: Chrysotile is the most commonly used type of asbestos. It is a white, curly fiber that is flexible and heat-resistant. It is often used in insulation, cement, and roofing materials.

Amosite: Amosite is a brownish-gray asbestos fiber that is often used in insulation and roofing materials. It is strong, heat-resistant, and less brittle than other types of asbestos.

Crocidolite: Crocidolite is a blue-gray asbestos fiber that is strong and heat-resistant. It is less common than other types of asbestos and is often used in insulation and roofing materials.

Tremolite: Tremolite is a white to grayish-green asbestos fiber that is often found in talc, vermiculite, and other minerals. It is brittle, and it is not often used in construction materials.

Anthophyllite: Anthophyllite is a grayish-brown asbestos fiber that is often used in insulation and roofing materials. It is strong, heat-resistant, and brittle.

Actinolite: Actinolite is a grayish-green asbestos fiber that is often found in talc, vermiculite, and other minerals. It is brittle and not often used in construction materials.

Uses of Asbestos :

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been used in many applications due to its unique properties. It is a mineral that is made up of long, thin fibers that are highly resistant to heat, fire, and many chemicals. Asbestos has been used in insulation, fireproofing, roofing materials, and many other products.

However, asbestos can be hazardous to human health when it is disturbed, cut, or broken. When the asbestos fibers are released into the air, they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. In addition, asbestos fibers can also be ingested, which can lead to digestive health problems.

In the United States, asbestos use is heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has banned the use of asbestos in most products, with exceptions for some limited uses in products like brake pads, gaskets, and roofing materials. Asbestos is also found in some construction materials and buildings, and it is important to have any asbestos-containing materials properly inspected and managed by professionals.

Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure include:

Asbestosis : Asbestosis is a grave, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.

Lung Cancer : Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.

Mesothelioma : Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.



 

Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).