Lecture 12: Asbestos

What is the mineral name for both white and blue asbestos?

White-Chrysotile and Blue-Crocidolite.

Who was affected by exposure?

Workers and the people from the town.

Why were people outside of Libby potentially at risk as well?

Asbestos dust can travel a long distance. Plus ores containing asbestos were shipped to other parts of the U.S. and Canada.

How are they different in terms of types of exposure?

Asbestosis is caused by long-term. Lung cancer is caused by long-term. Mesothelioma is caused by short-term.

What different types minerals are included in asbestos?

Chrysotile, Crocidolite, fibrous anthophyllite, amosite, fibrous tremolite and actinolite.

What newly manufactured products can asbestos still be found in the US?

Common household products and some toys purchases today.

What are the main factors affecting the likelihood of developing diseases related to asbestos exposure?

Construction and other activities involving asbestos.

How were the workers exposed to asbestos/ where was it?

the exfoliation process released asbestos like fibers from the vermiculite tremolite ore into the air

How are they different in terms of how they affect a person's health?

they affect different parts of the body and they are either long or short term. duration and magnitude of the exposure are important

What was done to prevent exposure and stop the deaths?

Nothing.

What can be done to reduce exposure risk at abandoned asbestos mines?

1. Cover rocks and tailing containing asbestos with grinded rocks of non-asbestos nature. 2. Workers receive safety training. 3. Warning signs.

What are the ways that asbestos can be safely disposed of and recycled?

1. Disposed of as hazardous waste in landfill sites. 2. Recycled by transforming it into harmless silicate glass. 3. Microwave thermal treatment to convert asbestos waste into porcelain stoneware tiles.

What is asbestos?

A generic commercial term originally applied to mineral products that are fibrous and flexible, with high tensile strength, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, large surface area and weavability.

When was the danger known?

After so many people had died or been diagnosed with asbestos related diseases.

Where in old buildings can you find asbestos?

Air Conditioning (or Heating) Duct Defects, asbestos cement down pipe, asbestos cement roof.

What is erionite?

Hazardous zeolite which has asbestos-like structure. A fibrous zeolite, morphologically similar to asbestos and it is assumed to be even more carcinogenic.

Asbestos used for in industrial revolution?

It was used as insulation in the U.S. and Canada.

What happened in Libby Montana?

Many people were dying from asbestos. When the rocks were exploded, asbestos dust went everywhere and coated everything. The vermiculite ore mined in Libby was contaminated with tremolite, a mineral of amphibol group that has asbestos-like fibers. Even though the company knew, it did not stop for 30 years. Also, the ore was shipped out to at least 315 other locations, spreading the toxic substance around.

What are zeolites used for?

Medical: Used as a molecular sieve to create purified oxygen. Nuclear industry, agriculture, heating and refrigeration, detergents, construction,hazardous remediation, etc.

Which forms of asbestos are carcinogenic and which are less?

More toxic: Amosite,Crocidolite, Asbestiform anthophyllite, Asbestiform tremolite/actinolite, and Asbestiform erionite. Less toxic: Chrysolite.

Has asbestos been banned from all products in the US?

No, toys, fingerprint powder,roof patching material, duct tape contain asbestos.

Which would you think was preferable?

Recycling by transforming it into harmless silicate glass.

What has asbestos been used for historically?

They were wove onto clothing

What are zeolites?

Useful minerals, has the unique micro-porous molecular structure.

What was being mined?

Vermiculite

What are the different diseases caused by asbestos inhalation?

asbestosis: a pneumocoiosis lung cancer: bronchiogenic carinoma(smoker's lung cancer) mesothelioma: cancer of the pleural lining of the cavity