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====Health effects of asbestos====

====Health effects of asbestos====

Asbestos is an industrial term that comprises six different natural fibrous silicates. They include: grunerite, (Fe, Mg)7 Si8O22(OH)2, riebeckite, Na2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2Si8O22(OH)2, tremolite, Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2, anthophyllite, (Mg, Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2 and actinolite, Ca2(Fe, Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2 all belonging to the amphibole group while the sixth mineral, chrysotile, Mg6(Si4O10)(OH)8 is a serpentine.<ref name=Ljung>Ljung, K., A. de Vos, A. Cook, and P. Weinstein, 2010, An Overview of Medical Geology Issues in Australia and Oceania. In: Selinus, O., Finkelman, R.B. and Centeno, J., Eds, Medical Geology – A Regional Synthesis. Springer, Germany, 107-135.</ref> These minerals can exist together as a homogenous mineral deposit or in combination with other minerals. Asbestos have found diverse applications owing to its flexibility, high tensile strength and resistance to heat, chemicals, and electricity. Thus, they are used in the manufacture of pipe lagging, asbestos roofing sheets, clutches and brake linings and insulation materials.<ref name=Ljung />

Asbestos is an industrial term that comprises six different natural fibrous silicates. They include: grunerite, (Fe, Mg)7 Si8O22(OH)2, riebeckite, Na2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2Si8O22(OH)2, tremolite, Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2, anthophyllite, (Mg, Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2 and actinolite, Ca2(Fe, Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2 all belonging to the amphibole group while the sixth mineral, chrysotile, Mg6(Si4O10)(OH)8 is a serpentine.<ref name=Ljung>Ljung, K., A. de Vos, A. Cook, and P. Weinstein, 2010, An overview of medical geology issues in Australia and Oceania, ''in'' O. Selinus, R. B. Finkelman, and J. Centeno, eds., Medical geology—A regional synthesis: Berlin, Springer, p. 107–135.</ref> These minerals can exist together as a homogenous mineral deposit or in combination with other minerals. Asbestos have found diverse applications owing to its flexibility, high tensile strength and resistance to heat, chemicals, and electricity. Thus, they are used in the manufacture of pipe lagging, asbestos roofing sheets, clutches and brake linings and insulation materials.<ref name=Ljung />

Notwithstanding their many applications, they are extremely dangerous to human health. Because of their fibrous structure, asbestos can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled causing different forms of damage to the affected tissues. This disease is known as asbestosis–a fatal lung disease that saps the patient of strength. Such inhalation can also lead to lung cancer, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and pleural mesothelioma.<ref name=Setal2010 />

Notwithstanding their many applications, they are extremely dangerous to human health. Because of their fibrous structure, asbestos can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled causing different forms of damage to the affected tissues. This disease is known as asbestosis–a fatal lung disease that saps the patient of strength. Such inhalation can also lead to lung cancer, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and pleural mesothelioma.<ref name=Setal2010 />