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Asbestos in the Community
Asbestos is present in many
communities, and it is important to learn about the potential dangers of
asbestos, and how to deal with asbestos safely to minimize the
associates risks.
What is Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral. There are several natural asbestos deposits located throughout the country. During much of the twentieth century, asbestos was used in an estimated three to five thousand different products, ranging from construction materials to home appliances. Asbestos was used in manufacturing industries as well as in the construction and ship-building industries.
For the most part asbestos is no longer added to most products, however it remains a problem because many public, industrial, commercial, and residential buildings constructed between the 1940s and 1980s were built using asbestos-containing construction materials.
Why is Absestos a Problem?
Asbestos was a popular choice for a range of applications due to its high tensile strength, fire resistance, and excellent insulating properties. It is very resistant to degredation via acid, heat, and other chemical and physical methods.
The problem is, many of those very same properties that made it so ideal for construction and other purposes actually make asbestos hazardous. When viewed under a microscope, asbestos appears as tiny needle-shaped fibers. The high strength and chemical resistance of these miniscule ‘needles’ means that if they are inhaled or otherwise ingested the body is very often unable to expel them.
If asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can potentially lodge in the sensitive lining of the lungs, or in lung tissue. Over time, they can cause chronic inflammation and irritation of the lungs. Long-term asbestos exposure can lead to the development of a chronic lung disease called asbestosis, in which scar tissue that builds up in the lungs causes serious lung damage and breathing difficulties. Inhalation of only a small number of asbestos fibers can potentially cause mesothelioma, a type of cancer that spreads aggressively and is very resistant to treatment.
Where Can Asbestos Be Found in Homes or Public Buildings?
Asbestos was used so widely in construction materials during much of the twentieth century that any building constructed between the 1940s and 1980s stands a very good chance of containing asbestos. Buildings constructed earlier than the 1940s may also contain asbestos if any repairs or renovations were carried out during the decades in which asbestos was used.
Exteriors
Exterior materials, including roofing and siding shingles, were particularly popular in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, but may also be present if built or added up until the 1970s. Other roofing materials, including felt and tar, are also likely to contain asbestos.
Asbestos-containing shingles were commonly made from cement-based products, and are usually lightweight. They were often dyed and can appear in a range of colors, and may be plain or textured. Shingles can release fibers if broken, crumbled, or otherwise destroyed so it’s important to treat these materials carefully.
If you locate any asbestos-containing exterior materials, professional removal is definitely advised, even if it is not required by law in your state. Exterior asbestos can constitute a public health hazard simply due to its location.
Walls, Ceilings and Floors
Asbestos was a commonly-used component of a wide variety of wall, ceiling, and floor materials, from vinyl floor tiles, to textured paint and plaster wall treatments. Decorative plaster, including the “popcorn” textured ceiling treatment, was particularly popular between the 1950s and 1970s.
In flooring materials, asbestos may be found not only in tiles themselves, but also on the paper backing material from sheet floorings, and in adhesives used to glue tiles and sheet flooring.
When it comes to asbestos in wall, ceiling, and floor materials, it’s very important to treat these materials carefully. These materials should never be sanded or scraped, and if you plan to remove such materials, taking the right safety precautions—including isolating the area and wearing appropriate protective clothing—is crucial.
Insulation
Thanks to the insulating properties of the fibers, asbestos was a very common component of insulation of several different types, particularly in attic and pipe insulation.
In addition, between the 1940s and 1970s, a large amount of vermiculite insulation that was sold as DIY insulation was contaminated with asbestos. The majority of the contaminated insulation was sold under the name Zonolite. It appears as a granular substance, gray or off-white in color. It was packed between wall joists and scattered between loose floor joists, so it can be found in both walls and floors.
Pipe insulation is also highly likely to contain asbestos. On straight sections of pipe this commonly appears as tape or corrugated paper or cardboard, while on bended sections, an asbestos-containing plaster was more common.
When it comes to insulation, it’s not recommended that materials be disturbed unless there is a very good reason for doing so. If the materials are damaged and exposed, some type of remediation — usually enclosure — is necessary.
Asbestos Removal Methods
There are three main methods by which asbestos is covered or removed:
Encapsulation involves coating the asbestos materials with a substance that binds and traps fibers to prevent them becoming airborne.
Enclosure involves covering the materials with a wrapping that contains the fibers within it (but does not trap them as encapsulation does).
Removal is carried out as a last resort only if neither encapsulation nor enclosure is appropriate. Removal can be a very expensive option, and it’s commonly thought that it can actually be more dangerous to remove asbestos than to leave it alone. The removal process can potentially release quantities of fibers into the air, where they can be inhaled.
Safe Remediation of Asbestos
Working with asbestos requires that the appropriate safety precautions be taken at all times. The area being worked upon should be isolated, and protective clothing, including gloves, overalls, and a respirator with a HEPA filter should be used.
Due to the dangers associated with asbestos, the EPA recommends that all asbestos remediation—no matter how small the project—be carried out by a licensed professional asbestos worker. In some states, the law actually requires that all asbestos abatement activities are carried out by professional contractors.
For more information on the risks of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, and mesothelioma treatment, please visit The Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center at asbestos.com.
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