by Bill Cass
Asbestos is the general name given to a group of organic minerals, all of which are composed of microscopic fibers and can be separated into thin, durable threads. Able to be woven into fabric, or mixed into materials such as cement, asbestos is extremely lightweight and strong, and does not conduct electricity. It also has remarkable fireproofing, heatproofing and soundproofing capacities. For these reasons, asbestos has been used for many years in a variety of commercial and consumer products as well as in building materials.
Nearly every building constructed in the United States between the end of World War II and the 1980s will likely contain some asbestos, in the form of insulation, ceiling or floor tiles, textured paint or spray-on soundproofing materials, shingles or siding, or steam pipe, furnace or boiler room applications.
If the asbestos-containing material remains in place and intact, its fibers are large and stable - in which case they cannot become airborne or enter the body. Yet when the fibers are stressed, crushed or damaged, they separate into many, much smaller fibers which then become respirable. Once the fibers are inhaled, they can penetrate the soft tissues of the body, such as the organs and membranes. Particularly vulnerable to asbestos fibers are the lungs, heart and lining of the chest cavity, where they can cause lung disease, pleural fibrosis, asbestosis, or mesothelioma-a rare but deadly cancer.
Any activity that could damage the stability of asbestos fibers should therefore only be undertaken by a qualified professional who is trained in asbestos abatement and outfitted with proper protective clothing and a respirator. There are also certain measures which must be taken to ensure the safe disposal of asbestos materials. Since there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, anyone on or near a demolition site runs the risk of inhaling the asbestos particles. Moreover, the fibers can remain airborne for a long time, and can be carried through the air or on fabric such as clothing. Simply because work is not actively being done on a demolition site does not mean that it is devoid of asbestos contamination.
Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets forth stringent procedures for the handling and removal of friable asbestos materials, there are some unscrupulous companies which perform demolition related activities without adequate precautions. If you are concerned about the potential for asbestos exposure at a work site, please contact your local Department of Health or law enforcement agency immediately.
About the Author
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