ASBESTOS - SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

Asbestos Fibers

At SERVPRO of Downtown Long Beach/Signal Hill, we deal with a lot of unexpected problems and create a plan to solve each one. One common danger found in many homes includes the potentially harmful material, asbestos.

While Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976 to comprehensively regulate toxic substances including asbestos, it hasn’t prevented the material from appearing in buildings and many consumer goods. Most recently, on June 1, 2018, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made it easier for companies to use asbestos in new products.

Following the new presidential administration “framework” for evaluating risks, the EPA would only restrict products that pose a direct risk to workers instead of a general risk to air, ground, or water contamination. While asbestos imports are tracked and reviewed for new purposes, many worry the EPA will be too lenient as they have been for pesticides, air pollution from cars, and coal-fired power plants. Asbestos imports to the U.S., which have declined overall and in the last few years, rose 45 percent between 2015 and 2016. 

Asbestos was unable to reach a complete ban in the U.S. in 1991, and it is still responsible for the deaths of about 40,000 Americans annually.

So what is asbestos, the dangers it poses, and signs to look out for?

Asbestos fibers are a soft, flexible, mineral substance that are resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion. For decades, this material has been used in fireproofing and electrical materials, floor tiles, automobile parts, and consumer products such as hair dryers. Unfortunately, these microscopic fibers are odorless, virtually invisible, and can cause inflammation in lung tissue when inhaled. Symptoms may remain dormant for 20-50 years, making the elderly more susceptible to mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lungs. If you suspect a large amount of asbestos in your building, check for the following:

• Surface patterns on roofing and shingles with dimples or shallow craters.
• Interior and exterior joints where plastic, aluminum, or wooden runners were joined with asbestos sheets and adhesives, like window putty, drywall tape and joint cement.
• Asbestos insulation in the attic or in bathroom floor tiles.

Notify SERVPRO of Downtown Long Beach/Signal Hill for expert cleaning from us and our associated professionals. A licensed abatement specialist will perform an asbestos inspection and determine if it needs to be covered or removed. You can count on us to keep you and your family healthy and hazard free.