Hazardous materials can be silent killers, almost every household or workplace contains various harmful substances therefore it is important to have the basic knowledge of these contaminants, where to find them, and what to do if exposed. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that is used in a number of different materials. Asbestos is not a concern if left undisturbed; however renovation, reconstruction or demolition can disturb these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become trapped in lung tissue which increases the risk for several serious diseases. Asbestos is a well recognized health hazard and is highly regulated.
In discussing the negative impact that asbestos has had on the people of Libby, it is very easy to correlate how the asbestos exposure was so concentrated in a family. Another way that a household, people who occupy the same housing unit, could have large amount of asbestos exposure is simply working with the products that asbestos was used to create. This could happen to people who do not even live in Libby. Asbestos was used for very many different products, all in which every member of a household could be bringing it back to the house. A grandmother of a household may love to garden and help grow a beautiful yard. This could lead her to buying large amounts of vermiculite, a type of asbestos, and bringing it back to the home. The vermiculite is then used for fertilizer being spread throughout the land outside of the house. With wind blowing the asbestos could very easily be spread throughout the inside of the house. In order to properly lay the vermiculite the grandmother would come in contact with the material, covering herself and her clothes, all in which will be entering the home. The father of a household may work for an insulation company who uses asbestos to insulate houses. The father will be covered in this asbestos, and also probably have his own house insulated with this material. These are two more contributing factors of asbestos to the household. Another example could be that a child of the
Asbestos Abatement: Used as a building material for decades, asbestos is a known carcinogen still present in many older homes. Rather than risking your health and that of your loved ones, let SafeGuard Restoration help.
Asbestos has been being used in the construction industry for decades. It dates back all the way to the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral made up of six sets of fibrous mineral: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. Asbestos is a compound that is very versatile. In the 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution, asbestos was being widely used throughout companies for various reasons. Companies like Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, and Mobil Oil Corporation were all companies using asbestos in their products. Companies used this fibrous mineral as a insular in houses, schools, steam engines, fire-proof ocean vessels, and even in the brakes of automobiles. Construction workers can become deathly ill after long-term exposure to this mineral.
Receiving standard check-ups, specially if you experience some sort of recognized record of asbestos subjection (i. electronic. getting labored in an professional
“Asbestos can be found in many homes, schools, and workplaces, and if it is not handled properly it poses a serious health risk,” Healey said. “Too often, children, families, and workers are exposed to airborne asbestos fibers due to shoddy or unlicensed work, and many aren’t aware of the serious
Despite being banned in Australia nowadays, asbestos can still be found in most of older construction, residential and commercial area as well as abandoned mining site. Studies show that the building workers, specifically the plumbers, gas fitters, carpenters and electricians the highest risk of getting mesothelioma, disease from asbestos fibres (Peto, J., Hodgson, J.T., Matthews, F.T., & Jacqueline, R., 1995). According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of mesotheliomas ' cases are increasing and expected to reach 18000 in recent. Though the asbestos is known as hazardous material, it can only affect the health if the asbestos fibres become airborne and are inhaled. The primary route for the asbestos to enter the body is through the inhalation processes of the contaminated air (Safework Australia, 2011). Unusually, small fibrous particles of
Just under two years ago, my middle school, Cache la Poudre Middle School (CLPMS), started replacing the hallway carpets. During the last month of school, one half of the building had stone floors. Just replacing carpets could easily have been done completely over the summer, but renovations had to start sooner because of what was underneath. In accordance with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, CLPMS had to remove any asbestos that may have been damaged by the renovations as well. The reasoning for the presence of asbestos underneath the carpets of CLPMS is because of the fire-resistant properties of asbestos. Yet asbestos wasn’t originally used in buildings. The fire-retardant
Asbestos is normally found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000.Anyone who works in building maintenance could be at risk if they disturb asbestos. Asbestos can be found in many areas of a building including water tanks pipes and gutters. It is also found in some paint and textured coatings. The legal requirements of asbestos include the 2002 Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations. These regulations put an obligation on employers to prevent exposure to asbestos include requiring employers to assess the condition of these materials and access the risk from these materials. Provide anyone who may come in contact with asbestos the location and condition of the material. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 include changes
Asbestos is found to be a deadly material and exposure to it for long durations of time results in asbestos cancer mesothelioma. The material was held in high regard due to its multifarious qualities like resistance to heat and shock, low weight etc. It was put to use in various commercial and consumer products on a large scale. Companies manufacturing cement, insulation, roofing shingles, along with industrial applications such as automobile brake pads, hair driers etc make extensive use of asbestos.
Mcculloch (1986, p. 11) shows that asbestos is a human carcinogen to individuals living in industrialized states, if exposure occurs. The exposure of large numbers of people had been those who worked in buildings construction and the mines. However, asbestos exposure affects not only asbestos workers but also their families, users of asbestos products, as it was exposed to building materials and in heating and ventilating systems (Benarde, 1990). A number of exposed workers were from South Africa, because the protection of workers and communities was
Removing asbestos materials can be delicate work. If you find asbestos inside of your house or building, you had better hire professionals to remove. It is the wrong idea if you think you can do it by yourself. Since it is delicate work, you may end up causing more damage to your
If you live in an older home, you may be concerned it has asbestos in it somewhere. Asbestos is rarely used today, but at one time it was used in floor tiles, siding, roofing, and insulation. While asbestos-containing materials are labeled today, older materials were not labeled, so they are not easy to identify. In fact, you can't tell by looking if a material contains asbestos. The only way you'll know is if you have it inspected by a professional. Here are a few things to know about having an asbestos inspection.
Although older homes contain asbestos, the material is not a danger as long as it is intact. If you buy an old home that is in good shape, you may not need to have an inspection done. However, if the home is deteriorated, or if you plan to remodel it, an asbestos inspection is a good idea. That's because asbestos is a concern when the material that holds it is damaged. Scratching, crumbling, and demolishing floor tiles or walls that contain asbestos causes the tiny fibers to float into the air where they can be inhaled. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause medical problems, such as mesothelioma. It's
Asbestos in the home can be very dangerous. It is very common for homes built or remodeled before the 1970’s to have asbestos-containing materials in them. During the twentieth century, about 30 million tons of asbestos fibers were used in the United States, and some of this asbestos ended up in residential buildings. If you have purchased a home or are considering the purchase of one, the presence of asbestos is nor necessarily a problem. The majority of individuals with asbestos related diseases have been in the business of manufacturing, installing and/or removing asbestos products. Fortunately, most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not develop asbestos related health problems. However, there is no known “safe” level of exposure, therefore, all exposure to asbestos should be avoided.