Asbestos

Asbestos is one of the greatest public health threats of our time.

During the last century, it was widely used in all types of construction. For example, it was frequently used in drywall compounds, paint texturing, ceiling texturing, gaskets, sheetrock and other routine construction materials. During the construction process, many workers were exposed to asbestos as they worked to build homes and other buildings. The common practice of using asbestos in building materials continued through the 1970s. Since the latency period of asbestos-related cancer is so long, the problem today is twofold: one, people who worked in construction or in other contaminated environments decades ago are just now becoming sick, and two, the buildings originally constructed with materials that contained asbestos are now often being remodeled, which means that the dangerous material is once again being released into the air.

When asbestos is handled, the microscopic fibers break off and become airborne in such small fragments that they are invisible to the human eye. Yet even those tiny fragments, so small you cannot see, feel or smell them, can be inhaled or ingested, causing asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Many people have been exposed to asbestos without their knowledge. Common construction materials such as sheetrock, “popcorn” ceiling materials, vinyl floor tiles, gaskets and other construction materials contained large amounts of asbestos and were manufactured and installed for decades without any warning labels or caution given to workers. Asbestos may not have even been listed as a product ingredient.

Although overall risk rises with increased exposure, even one small exposure has been reported to trigger the type of cancer that is only caused by asbestos.

If your home was built prior to 1975, chances are that it does have asbestos in it. The good news is that, left undisturbed, the asbestos is not harmful. A certified asbestos technician is the only person who can accurately evaluate your home and tell you if you have areas of concern. See http://www.epa.gov for a list of asbestos technicians.