Chemical-Specific Health Consultation:Tremolite Asbestos And Other Related Types Of Asbestos
The health hazards that fibrous amphibole in the vermiculite ore can deliver to the population in Libby, Montana is the topic of the original article. Experts have agreed that continuous exposure to this type of asbestos is potentially harmful to a person’s health.
An introduction about asbestos is contained in the original article. The article explains that asbestos is a collective term describing a group of fibrous mineral that contains long, thin, separable, and individual fibers. The composition of asbestos can be further studied with the use of asbestos microscopes. Asbestos microscopes are particularly useful in the identification and magnification of asbestos fibers. Various types and designs of asbestos microscopes have been in circulation in the market today. Using asbestos microscopes, six different types of asbestos minerals can be differentiated and identified: chrysotile, a serpentine mineral; and five amphibole minerals, actinolite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, crocidolite asbestos, and amosite asbestos.
Tremolite asbestos was the specimens found and collected in Libby, Montana. The use of light microscopy, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis in addition to asbestos microscopes identifies asbestos and concentration estimates accurately in samples taken by air or in bulk.
The chemical and physical characteristics of tremolite asbestos can best be seen using asbestos microscopes. The article states that the molecular structure of tremolite asbestos consists of two chains of SiO4 molecules that are linked together at the oxygen atoms. The original article contains pictures of the structure and physical appearance of tremolite asbestos. It also mentioned that tremolite asbestos components can occur in talc and chrysotile minerals.
Tremolite asbestos is particularly harmful to workers that handle, mill, and mine the ores containing asbestos minerals. Medical testing is imperative for these workers. Diseases that can be caused by this type of asbestos minerals include lung cancer, pleural tumor, pleural effusion, pleural plaques, and many more. These diseases take time to develop and would manifest symptoms in the later stages. The risk of having these diseases is increased on prolonged exposure to tremolite asbestos.
Chest x-ray is the diagnostic test commonly used to diagnose the diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Additional tests like pulmonary function tests, and computerized tomography also helps in the accurate diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases.
The sad news about asbestos-related diseases is that there is no regression and treatment options are not many. The latent period for the development of nonmalignant respiratory effects that are asbestos-related can take from 15 to 40 years from the time of initial exposure. Cessation of smoking and tobacco use helps in minimizing risk but could not totally eradicate the risk. Prevention is the only valuable option and this means minimizing or having no exposure to asbestos.
Additional research is also suggested in the article in order to increase knowledge and methods to reduce the progress of lung and pleural disorders as well as to make these diseases regress. The research studies should include studying the mechanism and pathogenesis of the diseases and the inflammatory response made by lung tissues.
