Exposure to Asbestos Mesothelioma

Exposure to Asbestos Mesothelioma Mesotheliomahelp.org

Exposure to Asbestos Mesothelioma ypes From Asbestos Fiber Asbestos Chrysotile is common in Consumer Products Asbestos is a generic name for 6 natural minerals that have been used in commercial products for their strength, flexibility, very low electrical conductivity, and also resistance to heat or chemicals. It consists of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and various metals. Asbestos can be divided into two basic groups, serpentine and amphibole, which differ in their physical characteristics. Asbestos Serpentine develops in a layered form or can be called tiered, while asbestos amphibole has a chain-like structure. Identification Asbestos is generally made of fiber bundles which are easily separated into thin and long-shaped fibers. Positive identification of certain types of fiber requires microscopic analysis & examination. All asbestos fibers are harmful to human health. Types of Asbestos That Can Cause Asbestos Disease Asbestos is a group of natural fibrous minerals. There are six types of asbestos which are identified as belonging to the amphibole & serpentine mineral family. Amphibole Mineral Family Five types of asbestos belong to the amphibole family. These varieties have a sharp structure like a straight chain that is easy to breathe. Amphibole asbestos includes: - Actinolite asbestos - Amosite asbestos - Antophilic asbestos - Crocidolite - tremolite asbestos - Actinolite Asbestos Asbestos actinolites are generally dark in color and also have sharp needles such as fibers which, when airborne, can be easily sucked. Actinolite consists of other minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, and also silicon. Actinolite was previously used in products such as cement, insulation materials, paints, sealants & drywall. Amosite Asbestos Amosite asbestos, also known as brown asbestos, is considered one of the most dangerous types of asbestos. Mainly mined in South Africa, amosites are characterized by sharp, brittle fibers, such as needles that can be easily sucked. Amosite makes up about five percent of asbestos material used in buildings in the United States, making it the second most commonly used type of asbestos in addition to chrysotile. Amosite can be found in the following products: - Semen - Chemical isolation - Electrical insulation - Fire protection - Gasket - Insulation board - Pipe insulation - Roof - Thermal insulation -  Tile Antophilic asbestos Like other types of asbestos in the amphibole family, anthophyllite consists of long fibers such as needles that can be easily inhaled into the lungs. Anthophyllite can range from brown to yellowish & mainly consists of magnesium and iron. One of the rarer forms of asbestos, anthophyllite is not often used in consumer products, but can be found in some cement and insulation materials. Exposure to Asbestos Mesothelioma sharemesothelioma.site Asbestolite Crocidolite Asbidolite asbestos, also known as blue asbestos, is considered one of the most dangerous types of asbestos in the amphibole family. Crocidolite consists of very fine sharp fibers that are very easy to breathe. Studies show that crocidolite is very dangerous, may be responsible for more diseases and can cause death than other types of asbestos. Crocidolite is rarely used in commercial products because it is found to be far more heat resistant than other types of asbestos. Crocidolite is used in products such as cement, tiles and insulation materials. Asbestos Tremolite Asbestos tremolite is known for its heat resistance and can also be made into cloth. Like other asbestos in the amphibole family, tremolite has sharp fibers that are easily inhaled or digested.  Tremolite is no longer mined & is great for treating many cases of asbestos-related cancer and asbestos disease. Tremolites range in color from milky white to dark green and are found in other minerals such as talc and vermiculite. Tremolite was previously used in various products such as paints, sealants, insulation, roofs and pipe materials. Serpentine Mineral Family Chrysotile asbestos is the only type of asbestos known to belong to the serpentine family. Also known as white asbestos, this variety consists of curly fibers and has a layered structure. Asbestos Chrysotile Chrysotile asbestos is one of the most commonly used types of asbestos, consisting of 90 to 95 percent of asbestos used in buildings in the United States. Present for heat resistance and flexible fibers that can be woven into fabrics, chrysotile asbestos is used in various asbestos insulation and fireproofing products. Chrysotile can be found in the following products: - Asphalt - Brake canvass - Brake pads - Semen - grip - disk pads - Gasket - Plastic - Roof material - Rubber - Textiles Still mined to date in Canada, Russia and also Italy, there is still controversy between health care professionals and companies that continue to export it. These companies claim that chrysotile mined today is safe because it is only used in solid and non-loose products which are "packed in a matrix of either cement or resin." Health care professionals maintain that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic and there is no safe level of exposure. Because this is the most widely used, chrysotile accounts for most cases of mesothelioma and asbestos disease including pleural mesothelioma. Exposure to Asbestos Mesothelioma moving.com How to find out which Asbestos type you are using Materials containing the last crocidolite were produced in the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s and most have now been removed from the building. The last amocyte-containing material was produced in the UK in the late 1970s, and because it was mainly used in asbestos insulation boards used for fire protection and insulation, there were still many who would remain in the building. Materials containing chrysotile are the most commonly used of all ingredients containing asbestos, with the largest percentage being used to make asbestos cement (AC) which was last sold in England in 1999 when materials containing asbestos were finally banned. A large number of air conditioners will remain in the building at this time. Most likely the majority of buildings in the UK contain material containing asbestos. Asbestos Related Diseases Asbestosis Lung scars are similar to pneumoconiosis, which can be caused by inhaling lots of fiber over a long period of time. This is not a disease that may be contracted without extensive exposure to free asbestos fibers over a long period of time. This can indicate an increased risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma. Lung cancer Lung cancer, which risks will increase due to exposure to asbestos in very large quantities. Smoking and exposure to asbestos will greatly increase the risk. It usually takes years from the first exposure to the onset of the disease. Mesothelioma Cancer in the lining of the chest or pleura, or peritoneum (abdominal cavity layer) asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of this disease. It usually takes many years from the first exposure to the onset of the disease. Pleural thickening Thickening of the lining of the chest or pleura, which can cause shortness of breath and show exposure to large amounts of asbestos and may indicate an increased risk of cancer such as lung cancer or mesothelioma. It usually takes years from the first exposure to the onset of the disease. Pleural plaques Thickening of pleural spots or layers of the chest at times they harden, but usually they do not cause symptoms or problems, but they are an indication of exposure to asbestos and thus can show an increased risk of Mesothelioma or lung cancer in the future.