What Is Asbestos? | Types of Asbestos | Asbestos Signs & Removal Cost
What Is Asbestos? Types of Asbestos, Signs, Removal Cost & All Details of Asbestos
Today i will Try Discuse of Asbestos All Details About An Step by Step
01. What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of flexible fibers that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make the mineral useful, but they also make asbestos exposure highly toxic.
Asbestos for short refers to a group of fibrous minerals that are used for strong and fire retardant substances.
Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective insulator, and it can be added to cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials to make them stronger. But when asbestos dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibers can become permanently trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage.
Consumers might wonder how dangerous asbestos is. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health conditions. A rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis.
02. Types of Asbestos
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 legally recognizes six types of asbestos that fall into two categories: Amphibole and serpentine.
Amphibole Asbestos
Amphibole asbestos fibers have a straight, jagged shape.
There are five recognized types:
- Crocidolite/Blue Asbestos
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
- Actinolite
Serpentine Asbestos: Serpentine asbestos fibers are curly. There is only one kind: Chrysotile, which is also known as "white asbestos.
Chrysotile: Chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most commonly used form of asbestos. It can be found today in the roofs, ceilings, walls and floors of homes and businesses. Manufacturers also used chrysotile asbestos in automobile brake linings, gaskets and boiler seals, and insulation for pipes, ducts and appliances.
Amosite: Amosite (brown asbestos) was used most frequently in cement sheets and pipe insulation. It can also be found in insulating board, ceiling tiles and thermal insulation products.
Crocidolite/Blue Asbestos: Crocidolite (blue asbestos) was commonly used to insulate steam engines. It was also used in some spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, plastics and cement products.
Anthophyllite: Anthophyllite was used in limited quantities for insulation products and construction materials. It also occurs as a contaminant in chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite and talc. It may have a grey, dull green or white color.
Tremolite And Actinolite: Tremolite and actinolite are not used commercially, but they can be found as contaminants in chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite and talc. These two chemically similar minerals can be brown, white, green, gray or transparent.
03. Type of Asbestos
And All Asbestos are Dangerous?
While some types of asbestos may be more hazardous than others, all are dangerous. Leading health agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, classify all types of asbestos as cancer-causing substances.
All the identified forms of asbestos can cause asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer and other serious diseases.
Some agencies, such as the Health Protection Agency in the U.K., claim amphibole varieties of asbestos are the most dangerous forms. The EPA has abandoned projects aiming to identify which asbestos fiber types are the most toxic, because the overall regulation of asbestos and asbestiform minerals is a more pressing priority.
The two mineral families of asbestos
- Serpentine asbestos has curly fibers made up of sheets of crystals. The single type of asbestos from the serpentine family, chrysotile, has historically accounted for more than 95 percent of all asbestos used around the world. As a result of asbestos-industry lobbying, some countries that have banned other types of asbestos still permit the “controlled use” of chrysotile.
- Amphibole asbestos has needle-shaped fibers. Studies suggest it takes much less exposure to amphibole asbestos to cause cancer, compared to serpentine asbestos. Amosite and crocidolite are the most commercially valuable types of amphibole asbestos, while anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite are considered noncommercial forms. 2020 Mesothelioma Packet from the Mesothelioma Center.
Use of Chrysotile Asbestos?
Chrysotile, commonly referred to as “white asbestos,” was used in the vast majority of the myriad asbestos-containing products manufactured in the United States during the 20th century. The United States and Canada were once major producers of the toxic mineral.
Naturally occurring deposits of chrysotile are often accompanied by trace amounts of amphibole types of asbestos, which increase its toxicity. However, exposure to chrysotile asbestos fibers alone still creates a serious risk of developing a life-threatening illness. The NIOSH has concluded people should treat chrysotile asbestos with the same level of concern as other forms of asbestos.
Chrysotile
asbestos-containing products include:
- Adhesives
- Brake pads
- Cement
- Drywall
- Fireproofing
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Vinyl tiles
Use of Amosite Asbestos
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined amosite, or “brown asbestos,” to be the second most commonly used type of asbestos in the United States. In its natural state, amosite is known as grunerite, and it was mainly mined in South Africa. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to amosite asbestos creates a higher risk of cancer in comparison with common chrysotile asbestos.
Amosite
asbestos-containing products include:
- Cement sheets
- Fire protection
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Roofing products
- Vinyl tiles
Use of Crocidolite Asbestos
Crocidolite may be responsible for more deaths than any other type of asbestos, because its fibers are extremely thin, causing them to lodge more easily in lung tissue. The most common mining sites for this type of asbestos were Bolivia, Australia and South Africa.
Crocidolite
asbestos-containing products include:
- Acid storage battery casings
- Ceiling tiles
- Cement sheets
- Fireproofing
- Insulation
- Kent Micronite cigarette filters
Use of Anthophyllite Asbestos
Anthophyllite is one of the rarest types of asbestos and does not have a long history of commercial use. The mining of this mineral began in Finland. Smaller deposits were mined in various other countries around the world.
Anthophyllite asbestos-containing
products include:
- Cement
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Rubber
Tremolite and Actinolite Asbestos
Unlike with the commercial forms of asbestos, manufacturers rarely intended to include tremolite or actinolite in their products. Instead, traces of these types of asbestos were extracted when other minerals were being mined. However, even incidental contamination by amphibole forms of asbestos is still hazardous enough to cause asbestos-related illnesses.
What are the minerals that may contain asbestos?
Minerals that may contain asbestos are:
- Taluk
- Vermicuilite
Asbestiform minerals are found naturally in a wide variety of geological formations. Typically, businesses intentionally mined to use the unique properties of asbestos, but there have also been cases where companies have mined other types of mineral resources that naturally contain a small percentage of asbestos. The most notable cases of this contamination center of talc and vermiculite products.
What is taluk?
Talc is the world's softest known mineral and is used in numerous products including chalk, crayon, paint, rubber, cosmetics, ceramics and pharmaceuticals. The most famous manufacturers use this mineral to make talcum powder (usually marketed as baby powder). Consumers have sought legal advice on asbestos exposure from personal hygiene products. There is no federal law for asbestos-free talcum powder products
What is vermiculite?
Vermiculite is a mineral that can "pop" like popcorn when heated in a process called exfoliation. This results in a light-weight material suitable for insulation, packaging and soil improvement. Vermiculite itself is not harmful, but unfortunately most vermiculites excavated in the United States in the 20th century contain highly toxic tramolite asbestos.
More than 70 percent of vermiculite sold in the United States between 1919 and 1990 came from excavations near Libya, Montana - now the site of the longest running environmental cleanup operation in EPA history. W.R. Grace & Co. The mine has been sold as tramolite-contaminated vermiculite zonolite attic insulation, putting millions of American homeowners at risk of asbestos exposure.
04. Where is asbestos found?
Although asbestos comes from all over the world, the main exporters are Russia, Kazakhstan and China. The toxic mineral was once mined throughout North America.
Asbestos may be found in large deposits or as contaminates in other minerals such as talc and vermiculite. Chrysotile asbestos is usually found as veins within serpentine rock.
While most commercial asbestos deposits contain 5% to 6% asbestos, some deposits, such as the Coalinga deposit in California, contain 50% or more asbestos.
05. What are the health effects of asbestos?
Scientific studies show that exposure to asbestos is associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The mineral causes asbestos-related lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer.
Other asbestos-related diseases include:
- Asbestosis
- Pleural effusions
- Pleural plaques
- Pleuritis
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- COPD
Asbestos Exposure Risks
No amount of asbestos exposure is safe, but asbestos generally has the worst effects when a person is exposed to an intense concentration of it, or they are exposed on a regular basis over a long period of time.
Asbestos accumulates in the body with every exposure, and there is no known way to reverse the damage it causes.
Fibers are easily inhaled once they become airborne. It is important to avoid disturbing products that may contain asbestos. Additionally, people who live near naturally occurring asbestos deposits should avoid disturbing soil that may be contaminated.
The majority of patients with asbestos-related diseases are men in their 60s or older. This is because asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period, often taking decades to develop. They usually trace back to occupational exposure at workplaces historically staffed by men.
Asbestos manufacturing high-risk occupations:
- Construction
- Electricity Generation
- Firefighting
- Military Service
- Mining
- Shipbuilding
- Heavy Indu
06. Use of Alternatives to asbestos
Safe products of asbestos can be used as an alternative to asbestos to avoid damage.
Since the 1980s, manufacturers in the United States have largely stopped using asbestos, instead relying on a number of safer alternatives.
Mention the names of a few asbestos alternatives:
- Polyurethane foam
- Amorphous silica fabric
- Cellulose fiber
- Thermoset plastic flour
Polyurethane foam
Polyurethane foam is cheap and effective for insulation. Construction workers can easily apply spray polyurethane foam to insulate and seal.
Amorphous silica fabric
Amorphous silica fabric is a high-quality cloth woven from nearly pure amorphous silica fibers. Like asbestos, the fibers do not rot or burn.
Cellulose fiber
Cellulose fiber is typically made from cotton, wood pulp, linen or shredded paper that is chemically treated to enhance it properties.
Thermoset plastic flour
Thermoset plastic flour is made of a mixture of wood fibers and binders, such as egg or gelatin, which is hardened and then finely ground.
07. What are symptoms of asbestos exposure?
The most common signs of asbestos exposure include shortness of breath, cough and chest pain. Pleural plaques are a sign that a person had enough exposure to be at risk of other diseases. They may develop prior to mesothelioma or lung cancer.
The first signs of asbestos exposure are the symptoms of related diseases. There are no signs of asbestos exposure that a person could identify before a disease develops.
Signs of asbestos exposure usually involve the lungs. That’s because asbestos primarily causes lung diseases. Asbestos also causes diseases in other parts of the body. The signs of those diseases primarily affect the throat, stomach and colon.
In some instances, a routine X-ray or CT scan may identify pleural plaques. These signal that enough exposure happened to cause other asbestos-related diseases. But pleural plaques aren’t a sign that any person can watch out for because they rarely cause symptoms. Plaques begin to develop 10 to 30 years after exposure.
Signs Of Asbestos Exposure Affecting The Lungs
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Crackling sound when breathing
- Chest pain or tightness
- Respiratory complications
- Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the space surrounding a lung)
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Asbestosis
Signs Of Asbestos Exposure Affecting Other Parts Of The Body
- Abdominal swelling and distention
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Bowel obstruction
- Hernia
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Clubbed fingers
Cancers Caused By Asbestos ExposureMesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
Noncancerous Diseases And Conditions Caused By Asbestos Exposure Asbestosis
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Benign pleural effusion
- Pleuritis
- Atelectasis
08. Asbestos Removal Cost?
Asbestos removal costs are mainly dependent on the material being removed, the size of the contaminated area, and disposal fees.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen that was used in construction due to its fire and heat resistance. It’s usually found in older homes or buildings built before regulations limited its usage in the United States. If asbestos has been identified, removing it should become a priority. A professional asbestos removal company is certified to remove asbestos using proper safety equipment. The average asbestos removal cost is $1,123 to $2,872, with a national average of $1,994. Most of the asbestos removal cost will go toward materials to protect the area from additional exposure during removal. The price may increase depending on the size of the job.
Preparation and setup for asbestos removal is the most significant factor when determining asbestos removal cost. A small area with asbestos tile may only need a single room protected from contamination, but an entire floor would require far more materials and preparation to prevent additional exposure. Setting up and sealing the area accounts for approximately 60 to 70 percent of the total price. Disposal fees vary by location, as do material costs.
The Size of Area
In many cases, asbestos is not found throughout a house but only in particular areas. The more difficult the site is to reach, the more expensive it may be to remove the asbestos. A crawl space or small attic is more hazardous to the person removing asbestos, and more care will have to be taken while sealing the room. Removing asbestos inside the house can range from $5 to $20 per square foot, and removing it from a roof or siding could cost up to $150 per square foot. An asbestos remediation project on an entire house could start at $15,000.
Pre-Clean and Setup Costs
Setting up to remove asbestos is a time-consuming process designed to protect workers and homeowners from flying asbestos fibers that should not be inhaled. The HVAC system will be turned off to prevent extra air movement. A decontamination area will be constructed, rooms sealed off, warning signs posted, and disposal containers prepped. Setup costs typically average $240 to $350 per hour, including materials.
Labor
Asbestos removal usually involves a team of people to seal an area and coordinate the removal process. An average project takes about 8 hours to complete, and at least two employees will usually complete the job. Labor costs approximately $75 to $200 per person per hour.
09. Common questions about the symptoms of asbestos exposure
How long does it take to show diseases related to asbestos exposure?
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease usually do not appear until about 40 years after manifestation. This asbestos latency period can make it difficult to diagnose a mesothelioma because patients may not have symptoms until the disease is at its advanced stage.
What are the signs and symptoms of asbestos exposure?
Symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases usually include:
- Weakness of breath
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Fatigue or general weakness
- Fever or night sweats
- Dry cough
How safe is asbestos exposure?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), no level of asbestos exposure is safe. Excess rates of cancer are found in all asbestos fiber concentrations. This means there is no evidence for a safe level of asbestos exposure.
Are there any tests for asbestos exposure?
There is no single test to confirm asbestos exposure, but diagnostic tests for asbestos-related diseases work effectively for this purpose. Mesothelioma Doctors speculate that the patient came into contact with asbestos when a test revealed an asbestos-related condition.
