Friday, November 16, 2018

Essential Facts About Chicago Asbestos

By Melissa Watson


The phrase asbestos is used in reference to a category of six naturally occurring minerals in the environment. These minerals take the form of fibre bundles that can be split into durable and fine threads useful in both commercial and industrial spheres. These fibers are poor heat and electricity conductors. Furthermore, they have an elevated resistance level against fire, heat and chemicals. These attributes make asbestos ideal for numerous industrial applications. Here are facts regarding Chicago asbestos.

There are other minerals that look like asbestos too and they include erionite. In terms of chemical composition or quality, asbestos is classified as a silicate compound. That means that its molecular structure is composed of oxygen and silicon. The composition of silicon and oxygen usually varies, leading to the six major types of the material in existence.

There are two main groups of these minerals. These are serpentine and amphibole asbestos. Mineral chrysotile is composed in the serpentine group. The fibers in mineral chrysotile are long and can be woven. Today, the chrysotile group is the one that is being used most. On the contrary, there are minerals like actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite, crocidolite, and tremolite in the amphibole group.

Amphiboles have fibers that are needle-like, which are more brittle than those that are in serpentine. Usually, there is a limit in the fabrication of amphiboles. The commercialization and mining of asbestos has been going on in most parts around the world such as North America from the 1800s. These mineral increased rapidly in their use during the Second World War. The use of these mineral in the construction and building industry highly increased since that time.

Some of the areas where the mineral is used is in strengthening plastics and cement for use in construction. It is also used in roofing, insulation, sound absorption, and fireproofing. Hot water pipes, steam pipes, and boilers in shipbuilding industry among other industries are insulated using the mineral. Also, clutch pads and brake shoes found in automotive are made using this material. Other products that are made using the same material are coatings, plastics, adhesives, paints, crayons, and garden products.

However, the boom of the industry did not last because in 1970s, its use was banned. Consumer Product Safety Commission was the first body in the US to label a ban on the substance. In 1989, the EPA would would later follow suit and prohibit any new applications of the substance. However, commodities developed before 1989 were allowed to remain in used.

The material was banned after the discovery that it could cause several health problems such as cancer. Considering that this product can be released into the atmosphere in form of tiny dust particles, their inhalation is made easy. They accumulate inside the body once they are inhaled and they do not undergo break down or disintegration.

The body does not have the means to reliably eliminate particles of dust when they make their way in. After some time, the particles cause mutation in cells hence causing cancer. In many cases, the particles build up in lungs. This causes lung cancer.




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