Five Things You've Never Learned About Asbestos Lawyer
Types of Asbestos
All six kinds of amorphous asbestos can be found in nature as bundles of thin long, tough fibres. They are resistant to fire, heat chemical and electrical conductivity. They also have outstanding wear and tensile strength. Asbestos has been used in a variety of products such as floor tiles, insulation, paints and heat-resistant fabric.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile is also known as white asbestos was the most commonly used form of the mineral used in a myriad of products before it was banned in the 1980s. It was popular because it was fireproof, affordable and long-lasting. It was discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to cancers like mesothelioma. While some countries continue to use asbestos, a total worldwide ban is needed now.
Health care professionals continue to warn that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and any amount of exposure to asbestos is safe. However, despite this, companies that mine and sell chrysotile assert that the asbestos they mine is more secure than older varieties of the mineral due to the fact that it is tightly packed and non-friable.
While this form of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole asbestos it is still dangerous to handle. Chrysotile is the most commonly mined asbestos and the one responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world. Chrysotile which is a brownish golden mineral that feels soft and looks like threads is a fibrous rock. Through electron microscopy, the fibres appear more like tubes. They are actually a combination structural layers of minerals that have been that are rolled into a spiral shape.
Chrysotile is known to cause numerous illnesses, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. It has been linked to cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal issues. These ailments are more common among those who work with chrysotile because of their long-term exposure to it. Those who work in construction and automobile repair are most likely to encounter Chrysotile asbestos since it was once extremely popular. It may be present in older buildings and vehicles.
Amosite
There are six kinds of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that were used as asbestos. Each mineral has its own chemical composition and physical properties. However, all six are associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. This includes amphibole, serpentine minerals chrysotile and crocidolite (white asbestos), amosite, tremolite anthophyllite, tremolite, and anthophyllite.
Chrysotile is the most common kind of asbestos found in the United States. It can still be found in the walls, roofs and floors of a variety of commercial and residential properties. It is also used in brake gaskets, linings of boilers, seals and thermal insulation. Other asbestos products that contain Chrysotile include shingles, cement sheet and pipe insulation.
Inhaling any asbestos-related substance is a risk. The exposure to asbestos in any form can cause lung cancer, pleural disease and mesothelioma. Inhalation is the most common route of exposure to asbestos. However, it can also happen when working or handling the fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous when the materials are brittle which means they break easily and are then able to airborne as dust particles.
Friability is a function of the length and the thickness of the fibers. Thicker and longer fibers are more likely than shorter and shorter ones to penetrate deeply into the lungs.
Exposure to asbestos occurs most often when workers remove or handle it. 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 may release small fibres into the air. This is due to the fact that sweeping can cause fibres to break while vacuuming causes them stick to surfaces.
Crocidolite
Amphibole asbestos unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long, straight fibres that are tough and brittle.
laguna niguel asbestos attorneys are also more hazardous to inhale. Crocidolite (blue asbestos) as well as 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 are commonly found in natural deposits along with chrysotile asbestos. These other asbestos minerals may be contaminants in crocidolite and mixed with chrysotile in the deposit.
Asbestos is utilized in a variety of products including asbestos cement sheets and pipes and friction materials for automobile brakes, gaskets and coatings. The fibres are made into paper, fabric mastics, thread, or bound by Portland Cement, resins or plastics. The length and the size of the fibres will determine the best application. The shorter fibres are utilized for electrical insulation, filters and flooring, while longer fibres are used for asbestos sheets, cement pipes, 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 the conclusions are influenced due to the lack of research on this subject. In general, the risk of developing stomach cancer appears to increase as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, the effects are diminished when consideration of latency prior to the first exposure is taken into consideration.
Other types of asbestos have been implicated in the formation of mesothelioma, a malignant tumor that affects the chest and abdomen (Mesothelioma). Children who are exposed asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. The reason for this is not understood.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most common illnesses caused by asbestos. It is caused by asbestos exposure over a long time and is more serious than any other asbestos-related disease. It affects the lungs and occasionally other organs like the heart, stomach and bladder. It can also cause mesothelioma which is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos is made up of six naturally occurring fibrous silicic minerals. It is widely used in the construction industry and is present in a myriad of products.
Most people are not afflicted by the low levels of airborne asbestos. People who do get sick are usually exposed to asbestos regularly in a specific occupation and for a prolonged period of time. The most extensive exposures tends to be in jobs such as shipbuilding, mining, construction and insulation. In recent years, federal regulations have reduced asbestos' use and it is now present in fewer structures. It is still found in older household products such as crayons and toys for children.
All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic and can cause lung ailments such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most well-known form of asbestos. Other asbestos types include amphibole and crocidolite.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed they release microscopic fibers that become airborne and can be inhaled. These fibres could get trapped in the lungs after inhalation. The asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as other diseases that can take years to develop. Smoking cigarettes and having a family background of asbestos-related ailments are additional factors that increase the risk of developing.
Mesothelioma
When asbestos is used in the production of insulation or to construct and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. These fibers can be breathed in or swallowed and can trigger serious health conditions like mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is a lining that covers organs. Mesothelioma typically affects the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). 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 owing to exposure at work. Mesothelioma also can affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because symptoms aren't specific and frequently resemble symptoms of more common 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. Your doctor will take your medical history in detail and ask about your prior asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if your likelihood of developing the disease is higher.
After the mesothelioma diagnosis has been made, 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 about 80% of all mesothelioma diagnoses each year. Other types include peritoneal as well as rare biphasic mesothelioma, which has epithelioid aswell as sarcomatoid cancer cells. The type of mesothelioma that you are diagnosed with will help your doctor determine the most appropriate treatment options for you. Treatment may increase your chance of surviving, depending on the type and the location of mesothelioma.