Tag: asbestos

Asbestos, a form of magnesium silicate, is a mineral compound once highly regarded for its incredibly effective insulating ability and its resistance to damage from chemicals and heat, including fire.

There was a time when the protective clothing worn by firemen was made from asbestos fabric.  The remarkable flame-retardant properties of this mineral were appreciated even in the days of ancient Greece, where it got its name.  In ancient Greek, asbestos means inextinguishable.

Asbestos shingles, siding, roofing, and insulation materials were widely used in homes, public buildings, and commercial facilities.  Electrical and heating appliances were often insulated with asbestos and many automotive parts included asbestos as a component.  Many other industries relied on asbestos as well.

Unfortunately, asbestos crystals can easily lodge in the lungs, where it stays forever.  The scar tissue that results leads to crippling, often deadly illnesses, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and another form of cancer called mesothelioma.

The extremely hazardous nature of the mineral led to the ban on its use in the United States in the 1970s.  Since that time, no more asbestos-containing products could be manufactured or used but the asbestos-containing building materials already installed were allowed to remain in place.

In most cases, a home built with asbestos shingles, siding, or roofing materials is safe as long as these products are in good repair.  Problems arise, however, when cracks, tears, and other types of damage expose the asbestos particles to the atmosphere.

Even when these products are in good repair, many of today’s homeowners are opting to remodel their homes instead of buy new ones.  One popular remodel option is to replace asbestos shingles with more modern-looking materials.

Handling, repairing, and removing asbestos shingles and other building materials can be hazardous to the health of the person doing the work, anyone else in the building, and, due to the easily airborne nature of the dangerous fibers, anyone in the neighborhood is at risk, too.

Because special handling procedures must be followed for optimum safety, working in any way with asbestos shingles, siding, roofing, or other materials is best left to professionals trained to handle these dangerous products.  This type of home repair or maintenance should never be considered a do-it-yourself project.

The industrial use of asbestos was banned in the United States in the 1970s.  Any buildings built before that time probably contain asbestos products in one form or another.

Asbestos flooring is one concern for anyone planning to remodel a home built before the ban on asbestos use.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as adopted a series of guidelines pertaining to the use, repair, and removal of asbestos flooring and other products.

It’s impossible to tell by looking if your home does indeed contain asbestos flooring.  Unless there are labels visible, a professional trained to detect the presence of asbestos is required.

Older homes are likely to have asbestos flooring if the home contains any form of resilient floor tiling.  This includes tile made from vinyl, asphalt, or rubber, as well as vinyl sheet flooring materials.

In addition to the asbestos flooring itself, the backing of the floor covering and the adhesive used to install it can contain asbestos.

Floor ducts to heating systems may contain asbestos insulation and so might any cement sheeting, millboard, or paper used for flooring under or around a fireplace, furnace, or wood-burning stove.

EPA guidelines recommend leaving alone any asbestos flooring that is intact.  Unless the flooring is cracked or broken, the asbestos is most likely sealed safely inside the product.

For peace of mind, however, many homeowners choose to seal or cover the asbestos flooring whenever possible.

Repairing or removing any asbestos flooring should be left to professionals only.  Handling the product, including sanding, scraping, or dismantling it in any way, is likely to release the dangerous asbestos particles into the air.

Repairing broken or damaged asbestos flooring is less expensive than removing and replacing the entire floor.  However, should the floor need to be repaired or replaced at a later date, the cost is likely to increase with inflation.

When damage to asbestos flooring is suspected, the EPA strongly advises that the area of concern be avoided as much as possible.  It is vitally important to avoid further damage to the flooring.

It is also wise to minimize any activities such as sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming that may produce increased air flow in the area of the damaged asbestos flooring.  Redirect any fans, ventilation vents, and air coming in from open windows and doors.

Never attempt to repair, refinish, or remove asbestos flooring.  This is never a do-it-yourself remodeling project.  Your safety depends on hiring specialists trained to handle asbestos flooring products.

Asbestos was once regarded as a highly effective building product and was used in many aspects of the building industry.  Today, however, we know it is actually a very hazardous material unless extreme caution is taken when handling it.

Most homes built before the 1970s probably have some product or building material that contains asbestos as a component.  Unfortunately, there is no way to tell by looking what contains asbestos and what does not.

In the absence of original labeling that lists component ingredients, asbestos surveys are the most reliable way to determine the presence of asbestos in your home.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chartered with safeguarding the health of the American public, recommends leaving the asbestos surveys and all work involving asbestos to the professionals who are trained to detect and handle these products safely.

Federal guidelines suggest no danger in products containing asbestos as long as those products and building materials are in good repair and will remain intact as installed.

Asbestos surveys are recommended, however, whenever remodeling or repairs are planned for parts of the home that may contain asbestos-based products.

In fact, the federal recommendation is to expect the presence of asbestos in all homes built or remodeled before the 1970s and to hire professionals to conduct asbestos surveys before disturbing anything.

When asbestos surveys confirm the presence of asbestos, most local and state governments require homeowners to hire specialists trained in handling this dangerous substance to do the work.

In many cases, handling asbestos-based products and building materials by someone other than a trained professional when asbestos surveys confirm its presence, it is a violation of the law.

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 insulation was very commonly used between the 1930’s and the 1960’s when it’s sever health risks were discovered and use was severely limited.  Aside from it’s insulating properties asbestos is also fireproof which makes it ideal as an insulator.  Unfortunately its health risks make it too dangerous to use. Asbestos is particularly harmful when it is disturbed or broken which releases thousands upon thousands of virtually weightless fibers into the air which then can cause lung disease when inhaled.  If possible it may be wise for newly found asbestos to simply be left alone and protected against any disturbances.

Before you decide what to do with asbestos insulation you’ve found it would be best to talk to an asbestos expert who can tell you exactly what you should do.  One of the ways to limit the asbestos contamination is to simply enclose the asbestos with another material.  By coating the asbestos you limit the chances that the asbestos has to get into the air to cause harm.  Encapsulating the asbestos is more of a short to mid-term fix though and the asbestos still needs to be dealt with in the long run.

If you find asbestos insulation in your house and want to get rid of it for good you should hire asbestos experts to come in and remove the asbestos for you.  Improper asbestos removal only puts more asbestos into the air and makes it more deadly and can be a health risk for years to come.  Professional asbestos cleaners will wear masks and protective clothing when removing asbestos insulation and once they remove the bulk of the insulation will wash the pipes or walls to remove any scrapes and they may even repaint or reseal the walls to ensure that there is no residual asbestos.  Unfortunately professional asbestos removal is a very expensive procedure due to its health risks.