As an occupational safety and health consultant, you are asked to provide toxicological advice on the potential health hazards associated with the following three situations:
i) A construction company is about to start work demolishing an old building which is known to contain blue asbestos (crocidolite). ii) A company stores large quantities of acetone and is concerned about the possibility of a chemical spill. iii) A freezing works has identified a potential hazard – a leak in pipe work which could result in a major ammonia leak.
For the above three substances undertake a toxicological assessment of each, using the following headings:
Introduction (including description of the material, physical properties and possible occupational exposures)
Action and effects in the body (including uptake, physiological action, metabolism of the substance in the body, and effects on the body)
Health hazard information and assessment
Conclusion (including recommendations for use)
A construction company is about to start work demolishing an old building which is known to contain blue asbestos (crocidolite).
BLUE ASBESTOS HAZARD CLASSIFICATION - A1 CARCINOGEN
Introduction:
Asbestos is a term applied to a naturally occurring common mineral known as a carcinogen which in simple terms is a substance that can cause cancer.
There are two main types of asbestos. These are serpentine and amphibole.
The serpentine fibre has a curved or wavy appearance and the amphibole fibres are straight and long. They include amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), actinolite and anthophyllite.The resistance to chemical break-down means that they will persist for a long time, potentially for life once they have settled in the lung.
Blue asbestos or crocidolite, has been known to be one of the worst types of asbestos, causing those who are exposed to it to develop fatal diseases including:
1. Benign Pleural