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Some General Asbestos Info
If you missed the asbestos furor of the mid and late 1990s, you need some basic information about this dangerous mineral.
Asbestos
Asbestos is found in naturally occurring deposits all over the world. It’s easy to mine, which makes it cheap, and can be used in many different ways. It’s been in use for centuries, although not as heavily as the past century. The ancient Greeks used it. Most often, they wove it into fireproof fabrics. They used these fabrics to create cleaning rags that could be thrown into the fire to be cleaned. It is also believed that they would wrap the bodies of the deceased in it before they burned the body to keep it separate from the ashes from the wood, etc.
Along with being fireproof and cheap, asbestos has some other positive qualities. It’s resistant to chemicals and electricity and increases the tensile strength of whatever products it’s added to. It also dampens sounds and is excellent to use as an insulator, which is its most common use.
Uses of Asbestos
As the Age of Industry got rolling in the late 1800’s, asbestos found its way into many different industries. Shipbuilders began using it as an insulator in the walls of ships and to wrap pipes, especially in steam engines. The same goes for the railroad and trains. Many factories had asbestos installed around the pipes and even in the machines, again, as an insulator. Power plants are well known as asbestos hot spots. Basically, the construction industry, both commercial and residential, used asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACM) extensively.
The Dangers of Asbestos
With all of its positive qualities, it’s a shame that asbestos is very dangerous for people, but it is. The mineral is a friable material, which means that it easily crumples and falls apart. Once the fibers have been released into the air, they tend to float around. If a person walks through the infected area, they are likely to inhale or swallow the fibers. The fibers don’t go away. The sit in the lungs and, after time, can make the victim very sick.
Asbestosis is the most common result of the exposure to asbestos. This disease doesn’t typically show up until years after the initial exposure. The fibers sit in the lungs and do constant damage to the tissues. Once the scarring in the lungs reaches a critical mass, the victim can begin to find it hard to breath. While this condition is treatable, if caught early enough, it isn’t curable. There are many deaths as a result of asbestosis. Even if the condition doesn’t kill the victim, they do have a higher risk of contracting lung cancer and another asbestos related disease,
mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is the lignin that covers and protects most of the vital organs in the chest and stomach. Asbestos fibers are a carcinogen that can cause tumors to develop in this lining. This disease is incredibly deadly and there is no cure. In most cases, when someone has been diagnosed with
malignant mesothelioma, they have an average lifespan of about eighteen months.
Spotting Asbestos
One of the most common locations to find it is going to be around pipes and ducts for you’re your hot water supply and heating/cooling system. If you see the pipes are wrapped with what looks like a heavy white tape, it’s probably an ACM.
Asbestos tape wrapped around pipes
This is true in both your own home and many public buildings. If the insulation is ratty and has holes in it, there is a very high risk that fibers have been released into the air. If you see this in a public building, stay away from it and notify the maintenance staff right away.
In your own home, there are several other places that you may find asbestos, especially if your house was built before the mid 1970’s. Shingles and the tar used on many roofs were made with asbestos.
Asbestos was a common component of shingles and many other roofing materials. Asbestos-containing shingles appear similar to these.
Many times, the wallboard used in residential construction also contained the mineral, as did the substances used to add wall texture and even in some of the adhesives.
Decorative wall and ceiling plaster treatments often contained asbestos, particularly those added in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Floor and ceiling tiles, some countertop materials and even a small amount of cabinet facings have asbestos fibers added.
What to Do About It
If you think you have asbestos in you home, you are going to want to do your best not to disturb it. Asbestos is safe until it’s disturbed, so, if you don’t have to mess with it, don’t. Once the material is covered with something, it can be considered safe. If you absolutely have to get rid of it, though, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional. There are many ways that asbestos dust can escape from the removal site if you try to do it yourself. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set up guidelines for certifying contractors for asbestos removal. In most cases a contractor’s ad will let you know if the they have the knowledge and equipment for asbestos abatement. If you can’t find an ad, you can contact your local building and construction codes office to find contractors for asbestos abatement in your area.
Go Here to Learn More The Asbestos & Mesothelioma Center