Asbestos


What is it?

Asbestos is mined into fibers from naturally occurring serpentine rocks (Serpentine is actually the California state rock), and it is used in multiple building applications for its strength, temperature resistance, chemical neutrality, and relatively low cost. Up until the late 1970s, asbestos was installed in countless buildings from floor to ceiling, and despite being extensively cut back in its allowable production and use in the 1980s, is still found in many building products today.

What regulations exist
to control Asbestos?

Asbestos regulations exist on three levels; federal, state, and local. On a Federal level, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) mandates that any material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight is considered an asbestos containing material (ACM) and as applicable shall be disposed of as hazardous waste. On a State level and particularly in California where it is stricter than Federal, the California Code of Regulations (CCR, Title 8) has specific laws and regulations that mandate the proper handling, removal, maintenance and work related to asbestos. Specifically, Cal-OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires that any material containing only a tenth of one percent or more (>0.1%) must be removed and handled by trained and licensed asbestos workers only. Locally, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulates all asbestos related activity (e.g. demolition, renovation, abatement) through Rule 1403, which outlines the proper and accepted methods of removal; such as Procedure 1 (HEPA filtration), Procedure 2 (Glove bag), Procedure 3 (Adequate wetting), Procedure 4 (Dry removal), and Procedure 5 (Approved Alternative).

How does Envirocheck, Inc.
test for Asbestos?

Envirocheck, Inc. can perform many asbestos tests for different needs. Envirocheck, Inc. can collect bulk samples of building materials to determine the presence of asbestos, air samples for clearance after completed abatement and/or for exposure assessments, and dust samples to assess potential contamination. Envirocheck, Inc. has a NVLAP accredited laboratory on-site for the analysis of these various samples.

Where is it found?

Because it was used so widely (over 3,000 building products), asbestos can be found in the following places in your home/office: acoustic ceiling finishes (“popcorn” ceiling), insulation, carpet/flooring glues, flooring materials such as vinyl sheet flooring or linoleum, HVAC ducting and duct covering, drywall material, drywall joint compound, hardwood floor felts, clutch and brake materials, plaster, roofing materials (tar, shingles, mastics), stucco, thermal system insulation, window putty, and many more.

What kinds of health effects do Asbestos cause?

When asbestos is undisturbed, it poses little danger. However, when asbestos is disturbed (by grinding, sanding, cutting, scraping, etc.) it releases millions of microscopic fibers into the air. These fibers, much smaller than the width of a human hair, can become easily inhaled by people around them. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can lodge themselves inside the respiratory tract and can cause serious health issues later on. Asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare, but always fatal disease of the lung lining) have a latency period and usually do not appear until 10 to 40 years after exposure. Smoking often amplifies the negative effects of asbestos, and increases the probability of contracting asbestos related health issues by a large factor.

What should I do if Asbestos is suspected or detected in my home or work?

The mere presence of asbestos in the home should not be a cause for concern, as asbestos is dangerous only when it is disturbed. Certain types of asbestos, such as spray applied asbestos ceilings, are “friable” and can be reduced to powder with only hand pressure. Friable asbestos-containing materials are more dangerous. Non-friable asbestos containing materials, such as roofing materials, flooring materials, and asbestos cement pipes should not be cause for immediate concern. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials by scraping, sanding, removing, drilling, etc. could create a health problem that never existed before. Should you have any questions about the possible presence of asbestos in
your home or work, please call Envirocheck, Inc. at
(800) 665-7586.
 
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