Thursday, November 15, 2018

Useful Information Regarding Chicago Asbestos

By Melissa Watson


The term asbestos refers to a group of six minerals that occur naturally in the environment. These minerals exist in the form of bundles of fibers that are separable into thin and durable threads, which can be used for industrial and commercial purposes. The fibers are poor conductors of electricity and heat. They also exhibit a high level of resistance to chemicals, fire, and heat. These qualities give asbestos a lot of industrial importance. This is what Chicago asbestos are all about.

Other minerals that resemble asbestos also exist. Such minerals include erionite. Asbestos is categorized as a silicate compound when it comes to quality and chemical composition. This means that it is composed of silicone and oxygen in its molecular structure. This composition often varies which leads to the six main types of the mineral in existence.

The mineral occurs in two main categories. These are amphibole and serpentine varieties. The serpentine category is made up of the mineral chrysotile. This mineral has long curled fibers that can be woven. As a matter of fact, chrysotile is the asbestos that has the most commercial applications as of today. On the flip side, amphibole category comprises minerals like tremolite, amosite, crocidite, actinolite and anthophyllite.

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.

Plastic strengthening and construction standard cement are some of the products made using the mineral. Furthermore, it is utilized in insulation, roofing, fireproofing and sound absorption. Steam pipes, boilers and hot water pipes in shipping and other industries utilize this mineral in insulation. Furthermore, brake shoes and clutch pads in vehicles are made from the amphibole mineral. Additional items crafted from this mineral include plastics, adhesives, crayons, paints, garden products and coatings.

The boom of the asbestos industry was however cut short following its ban in the 1970s. The first body in the United States to ban the use of the mineral was the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 1989, the EPA would later ban any new uses of the mineral. However, products developed prior to 1989 are allowed to continue being used.

Use of this material was banned after the realization that it has the capacity to cause a number of health problems, cancer being on the list. The ban was effect with respect to the fact that asbestos can be emitted into the environment in form of minute particles of dust. As such, they can be easily inhaled. Upon inhalation, they build up in the body. They neither break down nor disintegrate once ingested.

The body also lacks any reliable mechanism of eliminating the dust particles in the body once they get in. Over time, these particles cause cells to mutate and cause cancer. In most cases, the particles accumulate in the lungs, causing lung cancer.




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