by Sandip
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a term
used for a group of silicate minerals that occur as asbestiform fibers having
high tensile strength, flexibility, and heat and chemical resistance. Tremolite
is a hydrous calcium magnesium silicate with the chemical formula Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2. Tremolite can occur in a variety of crystal shapes and sometimes occurs as
asbestiform fibers.
Asbestos is used commercially for their desirable physical
properties. Asbestos fibers were once used in automobile brake pads, shoes, and
clutch discs. Asbestos was used in the manufacture of ammonium sulfate for
purposes of rice production, sprayed upon the ceilings, iron skeletons, and
walls of railroad cars and buildings (during the 1960s), and used for energy
efficiency reasons as well. Asbestos uses included fire retardant coatings,
concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant
gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring,
roofing, lawn furniture, and drywall joint compound.
Who is the large producer of Asbestos?
Russia
was the largest producer with about 50% world share followed by China (14%), Brazil
(12.5%), Kazakhstan (10.5%)
and Canada
(9%).
Is Asbestos safe for use?
Six minerals are defined by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency as "asbestos" including those belonging to the
serpentine class chrysotile and those belonging to the amphibole class amosite,
crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. There is an important
distinction to be made between serpentine and amphibole asbestos due to
differences in their chemical composition and their degree of potency as a
health hazard when inhaled. However asbestos and all commercial forms of
asbestos (including chrysotile asbestos) are known to be human carcinogens. In
the early 1900s researchers began to notice a large number of early deaths and
lung problems in asbestos mining towns. The first diagnosis of asbestosis was
made in the UK
in 1924. By the 1930s, the UK
regulated ventilation and made asbestosis an excusable work-related disease,
followed by the U.S about ten years later.
What is the adverse effect of Asbestos?
Asbestos is the main cause for mesothelioma.Asbestos can
create serious health problems in the human body and can cause diseases like
mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, respiratory complications and many more. In
1931 first time found that the asbestos use is cause mesothelioma.
Approximately 100000 people in USA
have died from Asbestos exposure related to ship building. In the Hampton Roads
area, a shipbuilding center, mesothelioma occurrence is seven times the
national rate of USA.
Thousands of tons of asbestos were used in World War II ships to wrap the
pipes, line the boilers, and cover engine and turbine parts. There were
approximately 4.3 million shipyard workers in the United States during WWII; for
every thousand workers about fourteen died of mesothelioma and an unknown
number died from asbestosis. All types of asbestos fibers are known to cause
serious health hazards in humans. While it is agreed that amosite and
crocidolite are the most hazardous asbestos fiber types, chrysotile asbestos
has produced tumors in animals and is a recognized cause of asbestosis and
malignant mesothelioma in humans.
Which steps taken to prevent people from Asbestosis?
In order to protect people from harmful effects of asbestos,
the Health and Safety Executive has joined hands with asbestos training
industry, who would give free training to all trades people and maintenance
workers till November. The HSE said they have been making repeated announcements to
all trades people and maintenance workers to opt for this free plan. Paul
Spurrier, the HSE Head of operations in Yorkshire and Humber,
was of the view that some hours in front of the computer would give them
benefit. The HSE informed that asbestos could be found anywhere and recently
they have fined the University
of Lincoln to a total sum of £10,000 for leaving
students at risk by exposing them to the risk of asbestos.
Source : http://timepassadda.com
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