Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials
for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and CPSC have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have
also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation
materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles.
Elevated concentrations
of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities.
Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels
and endangering people living in those homes.
Asbestos is defined as a group of impure magnesium silicate minerals which
occur in fibrous form. EPA's Asbestos program in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances is at www.epa.gov/asbestos
Contents
For Questions Regarding Asbestos, Call EPA's TSCA Assistance Line
TSCA Assistance
Line at (202) 554-1404 Find out whether your state has a training and certification program for asbestos removal
contractors and other resources on asbestos, see also www.epa.gov/asbestos
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline - Sponsored by the Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, the TSCA Hotline provides technical assistance and information about asbestos programs implemented under TSCA,
which include; the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act (ASHAA), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), and the
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA). The Hotline provides copies of TSCA information, such
as Federal Register notices and support documents, to requesters through its Clearinghouse function.
E-mail
address: tsca-hotline@epa.gov
Hours of Service: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST) M - F
Telephone: (202) 554-1404
TDD: 202-554-0551
Fax:
202-554-5603 (Fax available 24 hours a day)
Sources of Asbestos
Deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, and
floor tiles.
Health Effects
No immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung diseases.
Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer. Integrated Risk Information System description
on Asbestos - www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0371.htm#I.A. (Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number - 1332-21-4).
The most dangerous asbestos fibers are too small to be visible.
After they are inhaled, they can remain and accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer
of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring that can be fatal). Symptoms of these diseases
do not show up until many years after exposure began. Most people with asbestos-related diseases were exposed to elevated
concentrations on the job; some developed disease from exposure to clothing and equipment brought home from job sites.
How
Can Asbestos Affect My Health? (From "Asbestos in Your Home - www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html)
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels
of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of
the chest and the abdominal cavity; and
- asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.
The
risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos
fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a
long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Most
people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However,
if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there
for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been
sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.
Levels in Homes
Elevated levels can occur in homes where asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed.
Steps to Reduce Exposure
- It is best to leave undamaged asbestos material alone if it is not likely to
be disturbed.
- Use trained and qualified contractors for control measures that may disturb asbestos and for cleanup.
- Follow
proper procedures in replacing wood stove door gaskets that may contain asbestos.
If you think your
home may have asbestos, don't panic!
Usually it is best to leave asbestos material that
is in good condition alone. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fiber. There is no danger unless
fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs.
Do not cut, rip, or sand asbestos-containing
materials.
Leave undamaged materials alone and, to the extent possible, prevent them from
being damaged, disturbed, or touched. Periodically inspect for damage or deterioration. Discard damaged or worn asbestos gloves,
stove-top pads, or ironing board covers. Check with local health, environmental, or other appropriate officials to find out
about proper handling and disposal procedures. If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to
make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is needed. Before you have your house
remodeled, find out whether asbestos materials are present.
When you need to remove or clean
up asbestos, use a professionally trained contractor.
Select a contractor only after careful
discussion of the problems in your home and the steps the contractor will take to clean up or remove them. Consider the option
of sealing off the materials instead of removing them.
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Additional Resources
Asbestos in Your Home
This brochure, authored by the Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances' Asbestos Program, discusses health effects of asbestos exposure, identifies
common products and building materials from the past that might contain asbestos, and describes conditions that may cause
release of asbestos fibers. Describes how to identify materials that contain asbestos and how to control an asbestos problem.
Explains the role of asbestos professionals and use of asbestos inspectors and removal contractors. This brochure was co-authored
with the American Lung Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
See also:
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