- What is asbestos?
- What happens to asbestos when it enters the environment?
- Where can asbestos be found?
- Why is asbestos a hazard?
- List of Common Asbestos Acronyms.
- How might I be exposed to asbestos?
- How likely is asbestos to cause cancer?
- How can asbestos affect children?
- Asbestos Removal
- How do I know if it’s asbestos?
- I have asbestos pipes in my basement. What should I do? Can I remove the material myself?
- My neighbors are having their asbestos roof/siding removed. Should I be concerned?
- How can asbestos affect my health?
- Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to asbestos fibers?
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. The three most common types of asbestos are:
Chrysotile
Amosite
Crocidolite
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos and a member of the Serpentine minderal group is the commonest. Asbestos can also be identified under a microscope.
Asbestos differs from other minerals in its crystal development. The crystal formation of asbestos is in the form of long thin fibers. Asbestos is divided into two mineral groups — Serpentine and Amphibole. The division between the two types of asbestos is based upon the crystalline structure. Serpentines have a sheet or layered structure where amphiboles have a chain-like structure. As the only member of the serpentine group, Chrysotile (A,B) is the most common type of asbestos found in buildings. Chrysotile makes up approximately 90%-95% of all asbestos contained in buildings in the United States.
In the amphibole group, there are five types of asbestos. As an acronym for the Asbestos Mines of South America, Amosite is the second most prevalent type of asbestos found in building materials. Amosite is also known as “brown asbestos.” Next, there is Crocidolite or “blue asbestos,” which is an asbestos found in specialized high temperature applications. The other three types (Anthophyllite, Tremolite, Actinolite) are rare and found mainly as contaminants in other minerals. Asbestos deposits can be found throughout the world and are still mined in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union.
What happens to asbestos when it enters the environment?
Asbestos fibers can enter the air or water from the breakdown of natural deposits and manufactured asbestos products. Asbestos fibers do not evaporate into air or dissolve in water. Small diameter fibers and particles may remain suspended in the air for a long time and be carried long distances by wind or water before settling down. Larger diameter fibers and particles tend to settle more quickly.
Asbestos fibers are not able to move through soil. Asbestos fibers are generally not broken down to other compounds and will remain virtually unchanged over long periods.
Cement pipes |
Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops |
Elevator Brake Shoes |
Cement Wallboard |
Laboratory Gloves |
HVAC Duct Insulation |
Cement Siding |
Fire Blankets |
Boiler Insulation |
Asphalt Floor Tile |
Fire Curtains |
Breaching Insulation |
Vinyl Floor Title |
Elevator Equipment Panels |
Ductwork Flexible Fabric Connection |
Vinyl Sheet Flooring |
Caulking/Putties |
Cooling Towers |
Flooring Backing |
Adhesives |
Pipe Insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.) |
Construction Mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc) |
Wallboard |
Heating and Electrical Ducts |
Acoustical Plaster |
Spackling Compounds |
High Temperature Gaskets |
Decorative Plaster |
Joint Compounds |
Vinyl Wall Coverings |
Textured Paints/Coatings |
Roofing Shingles |
Roofing Felt |
Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels |
Base Flashing |
Thermal Paper Products |
Spray-Applied Insulation |
Fire Doors |
Electrical Cloth |
Blown-in Insulation |
Electrical Panel Partition |
Fireproofing Materials |
Taping Compounds (thermal) |
Packing Materials (for wall/floor penetrations) |
|
Electric Wiring Insulation |
Chalkboards |
Why is asbestos a hazard?
Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when distributed. These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs, where they may cause significant health problems. Researchers still have not determined a “safe level” of exposure but we know the greater and longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestos related disease. Some of these health problems include:
Asbestosis - a lung disease first found in naval shipyard workers. As asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become trapped in the lung tissue. The body tries to dissolve the fibers by producing an acid. This acid, due to chemical resistance of the fiber, does little to damage the fiber, but may scar surrounding tissue. Eventually, this scarring may become so severe that the lungs cannot function. The latency period (meaning the time it takes for the disease to become developed) is often 25-40 years.
Mesothelioma - a cancer of the pleura (the outer lining of the lung and chest cavity) and/or the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal wall. Thsi form of cancer is peculiar because the only known cause is from asbestos exposure. The latency period of mesothelioma is often 15-30 years.
Lung Cancer - caused by asbestos. The effects of lung cancer is often greatly increased by cigarette smoking (by about 50%). Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by asbestos. The latency period for cancer is often 15-30 years.
Despite the common misconceptions, asbestos does not cause head-aches, sore muscles or other immediate symptoms. As mentioned above, the effects often go unnoticed for 15-50 years.
Asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. In fact, if asbestos can be maintained in good condition, it is recommended that it be left alone and periodic surveillance to monitor its condition. It is only when asbestos containing materials (ACM) are disturbed or the materials become damaged that it becomes a hazard. When the materials become damaged, the fibers separate and may then become airborne. In the asbestos industry, the term “friable” is used to describe asbestos that can be reduced to dust by hand pressure. “Non-friable” means asbestos that is too hard to be reduce to dust by hand. Non-friable materials, such as transite siding and floor tiles are not regulated provided it does not become friable. Machine grinding, sanding, and dry-buffing are ways of causing non-friable materials to become friable.
List of Common Asbestos Acronyms
AHERA - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
ASHARA - Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act
CAA - Clean Air Act
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
FR - Federal Register
NESHAPs - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
NDAAC - National Directory of AHERA Accredited Courses
PLM - Polarized Light Microscopy
TEM - Transmission Electron Microscopy
TSCA - Toxic Substance Control Act
How might I be exposed to asbestos?
We are all exposed to low levels of asbestos in the air we breathe. These levels range from 0.00001 to 0.0001 fibers per milliliter of air and generally are highest in cities and industrial areas.
People working in industries that make or use asbestos products or who are involved in asbestos mining may be exposed to high levels of asbestos. People living near these industries may also be exposed to high levels of asbestos in air.
Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling. In general, exposure may occur only when the asbestos-containing material is disturbed in some way to release particles and fibers into the air.
Drinking water may contain asbestos from natural sources or from asbestos-containing cement pipes.
How likely is asbestos to cause cancer?
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the EPA have determined that asbestos is a human carcinogen.
It is known that breathing asbestos can increase the risk of cancer in people. There are two types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos: lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lung (pleural membrane) or abdominal cavity (the peritoneum). Cancer from asbestos does not develop immediately, but shows up after a number of years. Studies of workers also suggest that breathing asbestos can increase chances of getting cancer in other parts of the body (stomach, intestines, esophagus, pancreas, and kidneys), but this is less certain. Early identification and treatment of any cancer can increase an individual’s quality of life and survival.
Cigarette smoke and asbestos together significantly increase your chances of getting lung cancer. Therefore, if you have been exposed to asbestos you should stop smoking. This may be the most important action that you can take to improve your health and decrease your risk of cancer.
How can asbestos affect children?
We do not know if exposure to asbestos will result in birth defects or other developmental effects in people. Birth defects have not been observed in animals exposed to asbestos.
It is likely that health effects seen in children exposed to high levels of asbestos will be similar to the effects seen in adults.
Asbestos Removal
Asbestos removal may help prevent exposure to the asbestos fibers linked to cancer and other lung diseases. Asbestos removal should only be performed by qualified professionals, since the risks associate with an improperly conducted asbestos removal are quite high.
There are over 3,000 manufactured products that are known to contain asbestos; asbestos removal can therefore be an extensive operation. Individuals may not realize their home or business requires asbestos removal, since asbestos fibers are odorless and tasteless and were used so widely for many years. Asbestos removal experts can conduct an investigation, taking samples of various materials to determine whether asbestos removal is required. Taking samples yourself is never recommended, as releasing asbestos fibers can be more dangerous than foregoing asbestos removal entirely. In some cases, asbestos abatement may be accomplished through methods other than asbestos removal, such as encasement or encapsulation. These can be as satisfactory and much less expensive than asbestos removal. There are stringent requirements set by federal, state, and local authorities regarding the methods for asbestos removal and disposal. Further information is available through organizations such as the EPA and OSHA, and though asbestos removal laws do not vary much between states, individuals should always ensure that anyone hired for asbestos removal purposes is in full compliance with the laws and regulations. If an asbestos removal is occurring on a property that you rent, you can ask if the asbestos removal professionals have the proper training and qualifications. It is illegal to conduct an asbestos removal if you are anyone other than the property owner or a qualified asbestos removal specialist.
To learn more about your legal rights and responsibilities in regards to asbestos removal, you may wish to contact an attorney who has experience in working with asbestos removal cases.
How do I know if it’s asbestos?
Only certified professionals are allowed to take samples for laboratory analysis and only an accredited laboratory can positively identify asbestos containing materials. Contact a professional trained in asbestos regulations if you want a survey conducted for your building.
I have asbestos pipes in my basement. What should I do? Can I remove the material myself?
If the pipe insulation is in good condition, and there is little or no chance of it being disturbed, it is probably best to leave it in place. If the pipe insulation is slightly damaged, it can usually be repaired or encapsulated using various methods. Often, there is less risk repairing the material than removing it. EPA does not regulate the removal and disposal of asbestos containing material from privately owned single family residences. However, if the material cannot be adequately repaired or encapsulated, we do recommend that some types of asbestos containing materials be handled by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained to properly handle the material.
My neighbors are having their asbestos roof/siding removed. Should I be concerned?
No. You may still file a complaint in the bankruptcy court to recover up to 60 days wages and benefits. Your claim may have priority over other unsecured creditor claims. You should contact an attorney who has experience in litigating WARN claims, particularly in bankruptcy court, to discuss filing a claim.
How can asbestos affect my health?
Information on human health effects of asbestos comes mostly from long-term studies of people exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos workers who breathe in asbestos may develop a slow build-up of scar-like tissue in the lungs called asbestosis. This scarred tissue state impairs the ability of the lungs and heart to adequately provide oxygen to the body. This is a serious disease, and can eventually lead to disability or death in people exposed to high amounts of asbestos. Asbestos workers also have increased chances of developing two types of cancer: Lung cancer starts within the respiratory tissues, and mesothelial cancer grows from the thin membranes that surround the lung or the abdominal cavities. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma are usually fatal. These asbestos-related diseases do not appear immediately, but may develop 20 to 50 years after exposure.
The health effects from oral asbestos exposures are unclear. In some areas where the residents are exposed to asbestos fibers in the drinking water, cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine may be a greater concern. After reviewing the scientific evidence from human experience and animal testing; however, health authorities are still unsure of asbestos links to cancer in the digestive system.
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Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to asbestos fibers?
The most common test used to determine if you have been exposed to asbestos is a chest x-ray. The x-ray cannot detect the asbestos fibers themselves, but can detect early signs of lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. Another tool used by physicians, called a pulmonary function test, can also be useful in identifying lung capacity changes.
Periodic health examinations by a physician, including a chest x-ray and review of asbestos-based risk factors, can be effective. Asbestos risk factors include levels, frequency, and length of asbestos exposures; period of time since exposures; and smoking history. The combined impact of cigarette smoking and fiber exposures can increase the chances of asbestos-related lung diseases.