You have probably seen ads from on the television from lawyers regarding asbestos and how it is dangerous to your health. Many lawyers have filed lawsuits regarding workers who were injured while working around asbestos. Many people do not have any idea what asbestos is and where it can be found. In actuality it is found in many places and chances are you have been in buildings where asbestos was used.

Those tiny microscopic fibers can cause quite a bit of damage if they are disturbed. That is why it is of the utmost importance that you know how asbestos works, where it can be found and how you can safely remove asbestos from your building, school or house. In this audio program we will cover the basics of asbestos and hopefully you will find the information that you are looking for.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that is high in its strength and is easily woven to make a variety of materials. It is generally fire-proof and has the ability to dampen sounds for acoustic rooms. It is when the asbestos becomes damaged that severe lung problems develop. You have probably seen asbestos used in many items but gave no thought to the actual material until it was pointed out to you. Asbestos is also resistant to many chemicals which make it ideal for work in some laboratories. There are actually several different forms of asbestos such as amosite, chrysotile, and crocodolite.

Where is asbestos found?

Asbestos is found naturally in some rock formations but you are probably more interested in the applications that asbestos is used in such as for building materials. It can be found in tiles, acoustic rooms, insulation, asbestos concrete and clothing. It is used where places need to be heat resistant, sound resistant or chemical resistant. It has a wide application of uses and is found in many buildings that were built prior to the 1990's when information about the deadly effects of asbestos became known.

What is asbestos used for?

Asbestos is used for a wide variety of applications. Many concrete flooring substructures contain asbestos because of its heat resistant applications. It can also be used for clothing to help prevent fire or chemical damage. It is commonly used for car parts such as: brake drums, brake pads, clutch facings and brake blocks. It is also used for millboard, felt board and other boards used in manufacturing houses. Once, before the harmful effects of asbestos were discovered, firefighter's clothing was made from asbestos. During the fires the clothing would become damaged and the firefighters would breathe in the particles of asbestos. Today you can still find parts of the world that still utilize asbestos clothing for firefighters but it is been banned in most of the world due to its damaging properties.

Is it harmful to my health?

Yes, asbestos is very harmful to your health. When the asbestos containing material becomes damaged it releases the asbestos fibers into the air. You then breathe in these fibers into your lungs. There are three different types of problems that can then arise from breathing in these particles: mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These are serious problems that can prove deadly quickly. All three come as a direct result from breathing in the asbestos fibers when the asbestos material has been broken down.

Do I need to test for asbestos in my home before I remove the insulation?

Before you begin removing insulation and starting a home renovation project you absolutely need to test for asbestos. The best place to start is by calling NIST, the National Institute for Standards and Technology. They can give you an accredited asbestos laboratory number to call. The lab will request that you send them a sample of the material that you will be removing. If it comes back positive for asbestos you will need to have certified people come in to remove the asbestos material from your home.

How do I get rid of the asbestos in my home?

Well, that is a hard question to answer. It depends on a) whether you are licensed to remove asbestos and b) how much you value your health. If you are licensed to remove asbestos then you would go through the proper channels to get a permit to remove the asbestos properly and dispose of it properly. If you are not licensed to remove asbestos then the best advice would be to leave it to professionals. Just get a price quote from several different companies and then ask them what it will take to remove the asbestos material from your home.

How does the EPA regulate asbestos?

The Environmental Protection Agency has several ways it regulates asbestos materials found in homes, offices, schools and public buildings. It may be through the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances or it could be through the Office of Air and Radiation/Office of Air Quality Planning Standards. The EPA has several government offices that can step in to regulate how asbestos is used and more importantly how it is removed and disposed of properly.

Does asbestos occur naturally?

Yes, asbestos does occur naturally. You can find it in serpentine rock and other types of certain rock formations. It is essentially in the same fibrous form that you would find in building materials and it can prove just as deadly if you were to break down the rock formations and expose or damage the asbestos vein.

Is asbestos really found in schools?

Modern school buildings do not contain asbestos containing materials but older buildings definitely do contain asbestos. Many schools are making the change and removing asbestos containing materials from their school grounds as a way to keep kids and workers safer. The same thing goes for older houses and public buildings. For those places that do not want to undergo the cost for asbestos removal or if the need still prevails for asbestos to be used then a procedure for maintaining the building material is put into place. Asbestos is not harmful if it is not disturbed or damaged. Should it become damaged then removal would be the safest option.

Why not remove asbestos from places where it was used?

Many school systems are already running on bare bones budgets. They simply cannot afford to replace all of the materials that contain asbestos. The same thing goes for many public and historic buildings. Asbestos still is useful in some places such as those that need to be fire-proofed or needs to be acoustically insulated. Asbestos, when not disturbed, is not harmful.

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