Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used in more than 3,000 different construction materials and manufactured products. It is commonly found in heating system insulation, decorative spray-on ceiling treatment, vinyl flooring, cement shake siding and a variety of other materials. Some asbestos-containing materials were still being installed in the late 1980s.
The asbestos content of different materials varies according to the product
and how it is used. Among those materials with higher concentrations of asbestos
are insulating products on heating systems and the backing on sheet vinyl
flooring. However, an uncontrolled disturbance of any asbestos-containing
material in any concentration may be dangerous to your health!
When disturbed, asbestos breaks down into fibers up to 1,200 times thinner than a human hair. When inhaled, they become trapped in lung tissues. Medical research tells us that up to 30 years after inhalation, asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma, a related terminal cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity.
Because asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and has been so widely used in manufactured products, including automobile brake linings, it can be found almost everywhere. Trace amounts are in the air we breathe every day. Most of us have asbestos fibers in our lungs.
On the other hand, there's no known safe level of asbestos exposure. That's
why medical, environmental health and regulatory organizations stress the
need to protect health by minimizing exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.
This is particularly true when asbestos fibers accumulate at elevated levels.
Elevated levels result from uncontrolled disturbances and removals of
asbestos-containing materials.
Don't guess! Look for asbestos marking on the product or track the product back to it's manufacturer or supplier. If these approaches don't work, submit a small sample for laboratory analysis. Cost is minimal. Laboratories are listed in the yellow pages under "Asbestos-Consulting and Testing."
Ask a laboratory technician to instruct you how to safely take a sample. If you decide not to check for asbestos in a suspected material, you should assume it contains asbestos and treat it accordingly.Here's where to look:
Heating Systems
Many home heating appliances and heating systems contain asbestos insulation or gasket materials. It's common to find it as insulation on old furnaces and boilers, heating ducts and hot water pipes. It's also often found in insulating board materials installed under or around heating appliances.
Spray on "Popcorn" Ceilings
This heavy texture application was a common asbestos-containing ceiling treatment from mid-1960s through the early 1980s. It's extremely fragile and is easily disturbed.
Qualitatively chartering bus new york Sheet vinyl and tiles may contain asbestos if manufactured prior to the mid-1980s. Sheet vinyl can be dangerous to remove because it may be backed with felt containing high concentrations of asbestos. Fibers may be readily released into the air if this backing is disturbed dry. Tiles are generally safer because asbestos fibers are bound up inside the tiles in a petroleum base.
Cement asbestos-board siding is a very dense, brittle product used primarily in the 1940s, 1950s and into the 1960s.
Additional materials that my contain asbestos include "acoustical" ceiling
tiles, plaster, stucco, knob-and-tube wire insulation and artificial fireplace
logs and ashes.
You've confirmed that it is asbestos. Don't panic. You have good options.
Remember, asbestos is a problem only if fibers are released to the air.
Asbestos-containing materials that are in good repair and not being disturbed will not release asbestos fibers. So, the safest, easiest and least expensive option may be to leave it alone.
Sometimes, it is possible to work around asbestos without removing it. For example, rather than removing a sheet vinyl floor with asbestos backing, it may be possible to lay the new sheet vinyl on top of the old, or to install a new 1/4-inch plywood underlayment on top of the existing floor and then the new sheet vinyl.
However, if asbestos-containing material is damaged, subject to being damaged or must be disturbed as part of a remodeling project, then you should repair, encapsulate or remove it.
Sometimes, asbestos can be repaired or encapsulated rather than removed. A few inches of torn, loose or frayed asbestos tape wrap on heating ducts can be sealed with paint or duct tape. Damaged hot water pipe insulation can be covered with specially designed fabric available at safety equipment stores. Similarly, some asbestos applications that are in good condition can be encapsulated to stabilize them and reduce the likelihood of asbestos releases. Encapsulation often is the best option when dealing with insulation on heating systems.
There are two types of encapsulants. Penetrating encapsulants seep into asbestos-containing materials and bond with asbestos fibers. They have little impact on the outward appearance of treated materials. Bridging encapsulant products, such as paint, coat asbestos-containing materials with a more durable surface. They are most commonly used to encapsulate popcorn ceilings and furnace/heat duct insulation.
Homeowners should be aware, however, that although encapsulation seems like an attractive option, especially when dealing with furnace ducts or in sealing popcorn ceilings, there may be less obvious costs and risks involved. For example, painting may make a future removal much more difficult. It also can cause heavy popcorn applications or popcorn that has been water-damaged, to fall off ceilings in clumps.
In cases involving extensive asbestos damage or disturbance, removal may be the more appropriate option.
If you decide to have asbestos removed, we strongly encourage you to use a state-certified asbestos abatement contractor. These experts employ removal techniques unavailable to do-it-yourself home owners, thereby ensuring asbestos is effectively and safely removed. They also perform air monitoring to ensure that the air in your home meets acceptable standards after the project is completed.
Bonded, insured asbestos abatement contractors are in the yellow pages of
your telephone directory under "asbestos." Get several bids and check references
before making a selection.
Homeowners may remove asbestos themselves. Many projects can be done safely -- but only if specific work procedures are strictly followed. Some projects, such as the removal of certain types of asbestos insulation on hot water boilers, are very hazardous and should be performed only by an abatement contractor.
Before beginning a removal project, call PSAPCA at 343-8800 or (800)
552-3565 and ask for an asbestos notification form. Or, you may
download the form from this site.
We can help you with procedures that you should follow when taking on a homeowner asbestos project. These procedures are very important if your asbestos project is to be performed safely.
We offer "how-to" home owner instruction guides for asbestos removal projects, including cement asbestos-board siding, spray-on "popcorn" ceilings, vinyl flooring and "octopus" furnace insulation. To receive PSAPCA guides or to obtain other asbestos information, call: 343-8800 or (800) 552-3565.
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