Use of asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral resistant to heat and fire, so it is useful in construction and other industrial locations. Extracted by its various beneficial properties, asbestos has good strength malleable, strong thermal and chemical stability and unmatched skill as an insulator.
Forms of asbestos
Asbestos has two forms based on its crystal form. The first is the amphibole form, characterized by that the fibers are arranged along a chain structure. There are five types of amphibole asbestos have been used commercially: amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actonolita.
Crocidolite or blue asbestos, is one of the most common types of amphibole asbestos found in buildings with amosite which is also known as brown asbestos. Trremolita anthophyllite and represents less than one percent of production and consumption, so commercial use is not common.
A second variety of this material, the serpentine asbestos which is thinner, shorter and wavy that amphibole and consists of layers. The name of this type of asbestos is chrysotile and accounts for 96 percent of world production and consumption of asbestos is undoubtedly the most co form a asbestos.
Why is asbestos harmful?
When the fibers are manipulated, asbestos is released in the air. Once it enters the air, it can be inhaled by people who are in that place. Once introduced into the body, can cause various health problems they can enter the lung tissue and the immune system is not able to remove.
When is asbestos harmful?
It is believed that asbestos is a significant hazard when in contact with air. If asbestos is present can be measured to ensure if the environment is completely safe and the particles are not detached from products containing asbestos.The "friable asbestos" is a term used to describe asbestos fibers that may become dust when pressure is applied on them. The tough fibers that are not subjected to pressure are called "non-friable asbestos" If asbestos is not friable ore is not subject to any regulation.However, these fibers can also become friable asbestos using mills or crushers, making it a perennial danger.
Comparison between amphibole asbestos and serpentine
Chrysotile is the most dangerous form of asbestos, given her long, thin fibers can remain in lung tissue better than short fibers of amphiboles. Although amphibole forms they enter the lungs are better in more difficult removal.
Evidence also suggests that this fiber is the second ranking cause of disease possibilities behind the long fibers. Chrysotile can be removed more easily from the lung tissue compared amphiboles are less threatening. In addition to the material's ability to penetrate into lung tissue and other important in developing asbestos-related diseases, factor is the length of time that they remain in the body. The longer the greater the risk tissue, meaning that amphibole forms that are less soluble may be more dangerous.
Use of asbestos
There are many uses for asbestos, especially in the area of the ducts and pipe insulation in buildings and on roofs and walls. Furthermore fibers can be found in compounds for packaging, roofing materials, brake pads and cements, and heat for domestic applications such as toasters, tiles or chimneys. It is known that at least 2,003, 4,650 tons of chrysotile were used in USA. That asbestos, 80% was used in asphalt coatings and waterproofing roofs, 5% in other coatings and composites, and the rest in a multitude of different and varied uses.
Given this common use of asbestos, the most common victims are the mechanics, the workers and those who worked in the shipyards.
Who is at risk?
Although scientists and doctors agree that what they have been exposed to more intense and prolonged are the most likely to develop one of the diseases such as malignant mesothelioma related to asbestos., The fact is that a exposure in any amount puts a person at a particular risk of being affected by them. In fact a significant number of people suffering mesothelioma have never been in direct contact with asbestos. Even secondary to asbestos through the clothes of those who worked with asbestos exposure, you can put people in a particular risk.
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