Tag: asbestos

Working with asbestos, even for a very short amount of time, can lead to several chronic and fatal medical conditions that can be considered asbestos poisoning diseases.  It is possible to develop these conditions without coming in direct contact with asbestos.

The microscopic fibrous crystals of asbestos are released into the air any time the mineral is handled, including the handling of any and all products that contain asbestos as a component.

The crystals are too small to see.  They’re so light they become easily airborne and are easily breathed in through the nose and mouth, only to become lodged forever in the lungs.  The body’s immune system cannot break down these fibers.

Asbestos poisoning begins slowly and without symptoms.  The fibers become lodged in the lungs, where the immune system becomes actively involved in trying to digest these foreign particles.  Since the asbestos crystals are indestructible, connective (scar) tissue builds up around them.

Once enough scar tissue accumulates, the effects of asbestos poisoning begin to show.  The first symptoms may appear as soon as five years after exposure but 20 to 30 years is more common.

The scarring leads to thicker, less elastic lungs, which become less efficient transferring oxygen into the bloodstream and taking carbon dioxide out of it.  Shortness of breath with an absence of coughing is one of the first symptoms of asbestos poisoning.

Once asbestos poisoning has advanced, other organs begin to weaken from the lack of oxygen.  The heart is especially vulnerable.

Asbestosis, another name for asbestos poisoning, is only one fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos.  Certain lung cancers and mesothelioma (cancer of the lining surrounding the chest and abdominal cavities and the heart) are also directly linked to asbestos exposure.

There is no cure for asbestos poisoning in any of its forms.  Oxygen and physical therapy for the respiratory system help reduce pain and discomfort.  All forms of asbestos poisoning are fatal.

Asbestos crystals are so lightweight they can travel great distances once airborne.  Exposure can come indirectly, as from working downwind of asbestos handling or through ventilations systems where asbestos products are manufactured, installed, repaired, or handled in any way.

Asbestos litigation is the largest mass tort in US history and has been valued at $250 billion dollars.  The vast amount of claimants has even surprised the insurance companies who deal with asbestos and has bankrupted over 70 companies.  It’s been over forty years since the first asbestos litigation took place and since then there have been over 600,000 claimants.  The number of claimants has drastically risen in the past few years, with the most growth in claims with no physical symptoms. 

Nearly every industry has been affected by asbestos litigation covering 85% of the US economy.  Originally mainly the manufacturers of asbestos were targeted however now it’s changed to any industry that used asbestos in its operations such as construction, utilities and textile mills.  Asbestos was used mainly as insulation, and insulation is used in nearly every industry in some way or another. 

One of the criticisms of asbestos litigation is just how big it has become.  People are beginning to jump on the asbestos bandwagon even though they don’t have any physical symptoms of having lung disease.  This takes money that could be going towards people who actually do suffer from asbestos related lung disease.  In addition, frivolous asbestos litigation removes money from companies, harming employees as well as the shareholders of the company.  All of these costs end up trickling down through the economy hurting many aspects.

While much asbestos litigation is well deserved due to the extreme health risks of asbestos, it is tainted by claimants and lawyers who are doing it solely for money.  Asbestos related mesothelioma, a cancer of the abdomen, is a very aggressive cancer that has a very low survival rate and the families of mesothelioma victims deserve a fair share from the asbestos companies.  Frivolous asbestos litigation just dilutes what the true victims are receiving.

The use of asbestos started in the early 1800s and became extremely popular during and after WWII. At the time asbestos was a great and common product to be used or housing and other commercial projects because of its resistant to heat, fire, chemicals, and does not possess the ability to conduct electricity. There was no asbestos law or anything to prove the harmful effects of asbestos until the1970s. It was in the late 1970s when the first asbestos law was created by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission, or the CPSC. The CPSC passed an asbestos law that banned the use of asbestos in projects such as gas fireplaces and wallboard patching compounds because of the fear that the dangerous fibers on the asbestos would be admitted into the environment. This asbestos law also went on to state that people who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis, and sometime for just a moment, were at risk for contracting several serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These diseases are extremely serious and usually cause harm in the person that contracts the disease.

Although there was an asbestos law passed that outlawed the use asbestos, many people were exposed to the product after the facts about the dangers of the product were uncovered. Because of this, many former building contractors, ship yard workers, and other laborers have contracted these asbestos related illnesses, and feel anger towards the people that subjected them to these harmful products.

The diseases caused by asbestos exposure can lead to death and heartache, and are often caught too late because of the minor symptoms that are associated with the diseases. Because of this, many people are unfortunately having to face major health concerns do to working in certain fields decades ago.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once used in hundreds of thousands of buildings as an insulation material.  In addition, it was also used in a number of other building materials such as caulking, joint compound, floor and ceiling tiles, and roofing materials, to name a few.  It was not until a few decades ago that it was discovered to be a harmful substance, particularly when the particles are inhaled.  Because of this significant finding, asbestos removal has become an integral part of today’s modern building restructuring.  Asbestos removal is very important since the substance has been known to cause serious lung diseases, and cancer in some cases.  For those performing the actual removal, strict safety standards must be met in order to ensure that those removing it do not breathe in the particles or fibers.  Today, fiberglass insulation has taken the place of asbestos in most buildings, and any materials used for building now contain alternative ingredients.

There are many asbestos removal companies who can take the asbestos out of buildings safely.  Fortunately, less and less buildings today still contain this harmful material.  Often, when renovations are being done, or a building is demolished, it is discovered that there was still some asbestos inside.  An asbestos removal company is usually called in situations like this to be sure the material is removed safely and that no innocent bystanders inhale or touch it.  Some countries still use this harmful material such as China and India.  Fortunately, in the United States, the material is no longer used and any buildings that are found containing asbestos are often either demolished or temporarily closed so that asbestos removal can take place.  This helps to ensure everyone’s safety and well being, and keeps the public away from this very harmful, toxic material.

In the 1940s and 1950s, a common material was often used in home and building construction called asbestos.  Asbestos was a great building material that is actually an organic fibrous compound that is heat and fire resistant, and also can not conduct electricity.  While asbestos used to be a common product to use, in the 1970s, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, also known as the CPSC, determined that asbestos was a dangerous carcinogen and was to be banned from the market.  While many building still contained asbestos, proper precautions were to be made for employees who were going to have to come in contact with the produce.  Several decades later, many company owners and construction project leaders each faced a large asbestos lawsuit, claiming that proper health cautions were not taken when employees came in contact with the product.  The reason that an asbestos lawsuit was able to come about was that many former construction workers and other employees had discovered that they have illnesses causes from their contact with asbestos.  An asbestos lawsuit claims that innocent people came in contact with asbestos at work, and had later discovered that they were sick with illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.  The asbestos lawsuit claims that these employees were knowingly subjected to unhealthy and unsafe situations at work. 

Many families have created an asbestos lawsuit against their loved ones former employees because their family has had someone become sick or even loose their life because of their asbestos encounters.  People who file an asbestos lawsuit feel that if their loved ones employer had proved the correct safety material to be used when someone was in contact with the dangerous product, no one would have become sick or had to unfortunately loose their life.  Over the years, many families an have the opportunity to win an asbestos lawsuit and feel as though they have gained someone of justice for their unwarranted pain and loss.

Asbestos was used in many building materials from the late 19thcentury until the 1980’s because it is fire resistant, durable and a very good insulating material. It was discovered that inhaling asbestos fibers posed a very serious health risk including mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung, esophagus and other internal organs. Because of this risk asbestos is no longer used in the construction industry, however it remains in many buildings, especially those built after World War II. In recent years, removing asbestos has become an important industry.

If you suspect that you may have asbestos in your home, don’t panic. If it is possible, leave it alone, as it is only a hazard if loose particles get loose in the air. Do not sand or saw the asbestos materials. Do not try removing asbestos on your own; seek advice from a professional experienced in removing asbestos. Common areas where asbestos may be found in the home include: hot water pipes, flue pipes, roof shingles, textured paint, vinyl floor tiles or sheet flooring, insulation on older hot water heaters, insulation in old stoves, and ceiling tiles.

If you do plan on removing asbestos, you should take proper precautions. Wear disposable overalls, gloves, hats and shoe coverings. Wear a half face respirator with a filter rated for asbestos, and work in a well-ventilated area. Wet the materials to reduce dust, and try not to break them. Use a wet mop to sweep any debris and only use a vacuum with a filter designed to collect asbestos fibers. Wet and wrap the asbestos materials in sealed plastic and identify it as asbestos. Throw away all of the asbestos contaminated clothing in a sealed bag and also identify it as being contaminated by asbestos. Shower thoroughly to ensure you wash off any fibers that may have gotten through the barrier. Bring all the waste materials to a dump approved for asbestos collection.

Hopefully this has convinced you to avoid removing asbestos on your own. Call a pro and get good advice. Many times the area can be sealed off, and the hazard will be contained.

Asbestos is a danger material that is still found in buildings today, although it has been deemed harmful for a few decades.  Fortunately, it is fairly easy to perform an asbestos abatement so that the material is safely removed and disposed of without any injury or harm.  It is very important to remember that the average layperson cannot simply go to the source of the asbestos and remove it themselves.  The material is highly dangerous, so the asbestos abatement needs to be done with care, or preferably, by a licensed hazardous material professional.  When performing an asbestos abatement, it’s important to be sure to seal off all cracks or holes, so that any loose material cannot enter the environment or get onto walls, the floor, etc.  If you are careless, the material could spread to other areas in the building and make the problem worse instead of better.

Since asbestos should not be touched or breathed in, it is also important to seal off your body from the material.  This can be done by purchasing a sealed, disposable suit.  The suit should include coverage for the entire feet, and have either breathing holes that are filtered, or attach to some sort of breathing apparatus to ensure that it is not being breathed in.  Asbestos abatement is a very complicated process, so it’s highly recommended that you consult a professional to perform the job.  Since there is an inherent risk with asbestos, and since the removal process can be tricky and difficult, it is usually best to get a contractor to do the work and pay the extra money.  It is well worth it in the long run because you can be sure your building or home is free of the material, and you know that you were not exposed to asbestos.

When you buy a new home, one of the worst things you can discover after moving in is asbestos insulation in your walls or on your pipes.  Asbestos disposal is an expensive job to have done, and is very difficult to do on your own.  The reason why asbestos is not good to find is because of the serious harm it can do to your lungs when inhaled.  When disturbed, asbestos breaks into thousands upon thousands of virtually weightless strands which float through the air.  When inhaled, these strands can cause lung disease, and in particular mesothelioma, a very aggressive cancer of the abdomen, which is generally fatal.

If you find what you suspect to be asbestos you should make care not to touch or disturb the asbestos in any way.  Asbestos gets very brittle and can easily break apart.  You should call an asbestos disposal company as soon as possible so they can give you their professional opinion on how to remove it.

Sometimes asbestos shouldn’t even be removed at all.  Instead it can be encapsulated with another substance to prevent the asbestos from breaking apart and floating into the air.  While encapsulating the asbestos doesn’t remove it all together, it does limit the danger it can post.  In the long run though, the asbestos will have to be dealt with.

When you hire a professional asbestos disposal company they will probably begin with a thorough inspection to see just how much asbestos is involved.  When they first begin extracting the asbestos they will wear face masks to prevent the asbestos from entering their lungs.  After removing all of the large pieces they will wash the surfaces in which the asbestos was attached to remove any stray pieces.  To be thorough, some asbestos disposal companies then repaint or reseal the surface to cover any last traces of the asbestos.

Many people who have worked on older homes or in older buildings are acutely aware of asbestos exposure and the problems and heartache that can occur to to exposure to this product. For those people who do not commonly work in old spaces, asbestos exposure might not be a commonly used phrase.  You might wonder what, exactly, asbestos is. 

Asbestos is actually the phrase used to describe several minerals that are produced naturally in the environment in bundles of fibers that are often spread thin to create thin, strong threads. These natural fibers were a great product for builders to use because the asbestos fibers were resistant to fire, heat, and chemicals, and didn’t conduct electricity. For a long time, it was believed that asbestos was a great product to use in construction because of all of its great features. However, over time, scientist learned that the asbestos that can be emitted into the environment can be extremely dangerous and toxic.

 Asbestos exposure can cause a lot of damage for people that have been exposed to this product. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma which is extremely dangerous and often deadly. Asbestos exposure can also cause diseases such as lung cancer, asbestos, and pleural disease.  During WWII and the few decades following, asbestos was used commonly throughout many industries, causing many people to be subjected to asbestos exposure and therefor be subjected to many of the awful diseases that have come about because of this asbestos exposure.

Ever since it was discovered that asbestos exposure can pose serious health problems, the FDA has banded the use of the product. People have also made conscious efforts to remove all asbestos still present in older homes and buildings, so that the danger of asbestos exposure can be eliminated.

Asbestos is a product that was commonly used in the construction of many homes and buildings in the mid 1900s, and was discovers in the 1970s to be a dangerous carcinogen, and was banned from further use in construction products and any other form of use.  Asbestos was used frequently because it was fire resistant, heat safe, and did not conduct electricity.  Because of these features, the product seemed great for building and construction purposes. While asbestos was not used in building and construction after the 1970s, the product was, and still is, around everywhere is many old buildings.  Because asbestos can cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, it is important that asbestos training is done on the safe removal of the product so that the homeowners or building occupants do not have to come in contact with product and are not put at risk for contracting these diseases.

Asbestos training teaches professionals how to remove the asbestos from whatever casing it is lying in, such as walling or flooring.  With out the proper asbestos training, small fibers from the old asbestos could become airborne, and create huge health risks for the people living in the home. 

Another thing to think about when removing asbestos is that the asbestos training is done by licensed professionals.  Asbestos is so dangerous, that if someone is trained by an agency that is not licensed in proper asbestos removal, they can not insure that all of the small fibers will be removed.  With the proper asbestos removal done by professionals who have received asbestos training, homeowners and building occupants can rest easy knowing that they are not in any danger of getting mesothelioma or lung cancer that could have been caused by the carcinogenic asbestos product.  Asbestos is a dangerous product, but when properly taken care of, it can easily be tamed.