THE LATENT THREAT: ASBESTOS
Archaeological evidence indicates
humans have been using asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, since ancient
times—possibly as early as 3000 B.C.
The compound’s unique qualities afforded seemingly limitless
benefits to humanity. As with many
other industries, the Industrial Revolution transformed the use and application
of asbestos. The late 1800s brought
momentous innovation in the application of the compound throughout an array of
products. By the 1930s, the
Playing a major role in a number of industries, asbestos was regularly used in trains, ships and shipyards, textiles, automotives, and construction materials, to name a few. The toxic chemical was most commonly used for insulation purposes in residential and commercial buildings, boiler and engine rooms aboard ships and trains, and as a protective covering on pipes and plumbing. Asbestos was rampantly employed in construction materials such as floor and ceiling tiles, adhesives, cements, siding, roofing, pipeline wrap, and shingles.
In addition to industrial use, asbestos was conventionally utilized in consumer items. Many household items contained asbestos, including appliances, hair dryers, and even clothing. Asbestos’ flexible fibers are easily woven into fabrics and were even used to insulate clothing and gloves for firefighters.
Firefighters
actually hold a higher risk than the average person of being exposed to
asbestos. Since so many buildings
contain asbestos, firefighters frequently come in contact with the caustic
substance. Furthermore,
firefighting tools such as fire blankets were once composed of asbestos. Asbestos exposure can even occur during
training, as revealed in the recent news that a team of firefighters in
Commonly considered the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known, asbestos exposure can lead to a range of debilitating health conditions. Contact with asbestos may potentially cause illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer that attacks the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart). Thousands of cases of asbestos-related diseases are diagnosed each year. The latency of these illnesses, coupled with the non-specificity of symptoms, causes most cases to be diagnosed in late stages of development. For more information on asbestos cancer and mesothelioma treatment please see the resources at Asbestos.com.
WHERE TO SPOT ASBESTOS
Asbestos can be found in countless residential and commercial
buildings. Most structures built
before the early-90s contain asbestos.
Some possible sources of asbestos in homes include the following:
Ø Tile and sheet
vinyl flooring. Adhesives applied in flooring also contained asbestos.
Ø Roofing
materials, such as tiles, felting, and adhesives.
Ø Textured plaster
for acoustical ceiling treatment (as well as decoratively along walls and
ceilings).
Ø
Sheet products such as millboard, rollboard, and
others were utilized for wall framing. Asbestos is also found in joint
compounds and plaster used to patch holes and seams.
Ø Many types of insulation, including wall insulation, pipe covering, electrical tape and wadding, and in stoves and finances.
HOW TO HANDLE IT SAFELY
Most people cannot identify asbestos by sight alone. Unless the product is labeled, sight identification is practically impossible. The best means of locating and identifying asbestos-containing products is to have them tested by a professional. Since asbestos is easily broken into minute particles when exposed, handling the material affords a high risk of inhaling the deadly substance. This means it is best not to handle asbestos at all, for there is no safe and secure way for a nonprofessional to collect and dispose of the substance. All testing and abatement of asbestos should be done by a licensed professional.
For more information on asbestos exposure and abatement please visit the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.
ABATEMENT CONTRACTORS NEAR
GWC
Construction Inc.
(505)396-8492
Acme
Environmental Inc.
Albuquerque
(505)872-2263
www.acmeenvironmental.com
Environmental
Remediation Services Inc.
Albuquerque
(505)828-9066
Independent
Special Safety Evaluations Inc.
Albuquerque
(505)823-6411
Mechanical
& Electrical Engineering Inc.
(505)983-2389
Southwest
Hazard Control
Albuquerque
(505)298-6930
www.swhaz.com
Spray
Systems Environmental
(480)
967-8300
www.spraysystemseri.com