Only contractors licensed by the state to perform asbestos abatement activities should undertake its repair and removal. As when hiring any contractor, ask for references and a list of similar projects that the contractor has recently completed. Check with your local air pollution control board, the local agency responsible for worker safety and the Better Business Bureau to see if the firm has had any safety violations.
Insist that the contractor use the proper equipment to do the job and that workers wear approved respirators, gloves and other protective clothing. Homeowners should also verify that the contractor has a general liability and workman's compensation policies that cover this type of work.
In many states, contractors are required by law to notify federal, state and local agencies that they are about to perform abatement activities. At the end of the job, before the contractor removes its containment system, the industrial hygiene specialist who first evaluated the property should return to take air samples to be sure that no asbestos fibers have accidentally escaped.
Repairing after asbestos Repair involves either sealing or covering asbestos material. Repairs can either be major or minor. Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended; improper handling of asbestos materials creates more problems than it solves. Sealing Sealing encapsulation treats the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released.
Covering Covering enclosure involves placing a protective wrap or jacket around the material that contains asbestos to prevent the release of fibers. ADT SimpliSafe vs. Vivint Abode vs. In general, it takes a lot of repeated exposure to asbestos for related conditions to develop. It is rare for someone to get sick from asbestos products in their home, but it is possible.
Most people who develop asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos at work for years. Still, heavy short-term asbestos exposures have been known to cause disease. If you own an older home, take every precaution to avoid damaging materials that may contain asbestos. Even if a repair seems minor, you should hire a professional when asbestos may be present. Improper handling of safely managed asbestos can create an exposure risk where there was none before. If you are concerned that you were exposed to asbestos, start by talking to your primary care physician.
Asbestos-related conditions are difficult to detect, and not all primary care doctors have the tools and experience to diagnose them. If you know for certain that you were exposed to asbestos, it is a good idea to seek annual screenings from a qualified lung specialist such as an occupational pulmonologist.
The cost of asbestos testing varies depending on the number of samples tested and the methods used. However, if you collect samples, you can create exposure risks. Any activity involving asbestos must follow U. Environmental Protection Agency regulations as well as any state asbestos laws. Some asbestos violations result in written warnings. However, as required by the new California Consumer Privacy Act CCPA , you may record your preference to view or remove your personal information by completing the form below.
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Toggle menu Go to search page. Search Field. In August , the EPA recommended that consumers reduce possible asbestos exposure from vermiculite-containing garden products by limiting the amount of dust produced during use.
The EPA suggested that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from vermiculite use into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less likely to generate dust. The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.
Asbestos is currently used most frequently in gaskets and in roofing and friction products. Common products that might have contained asbestos in the past, and conditions which may release fibers, include:. Despite what some fraudsters may tell you, it is not possible to identify asbestos just by looking at it. It can only be positively identified by a person trained in fiber identification with a special polarized light microscope.
There are certified labs throughout the country that can identify asbestos in building materials see attached list. Contact a lab to find out how the sample should be collected and sent for testing.
Do NOT try to take samples yourself unless specifically instructed how to do so - you don't want to risk exposure to the airborne fibers by disturbing it without taking the proper precautions. Asbestos fibers can have serious effects on your health if inhaled.
There is no known safe exposure to asbestos. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. The amount of time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of disease can be as much as 30 years.
It is known that smokers exposed to asbestos have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer than just from smoking alone. Asbestos can cause asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs that leads to breathing problems and heart failure.
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