Understanding the dangers of asbestos, and how to prevent them.

In our modern day, asbestos is considered a highly dangerous and highly regulated substance. How to properly remove and dispose of asbestos can vary from state to state, with each having its own particular laws put into place. Besides this, there are important factors related to a property owner’s responsibility in the entire process, such as when asbestos testing should take place and what protocols are needed to ensure everyone’s safety. With all that in mind, it’s important to know as much as you can about asbestos removal. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

Asbestos History

The first ever filed lawsuit related to asbestos exposure dates back to 1934. Since then, there have been numerous asbestos lawsuits and legal battles worldwide. One of the reasons for this is because of how prevalent asbestos is. Despite the fact that asbestos has now been regulated in America and other countries for decades, this once-considered “miracle mineral” has a history of worldwide use that dates back thousands of years. `

Because of this, the issue of asbestos removal can seem more complicated than what some people might suspect. The reason for this is that asbestos can be found in commercial and residential areas, both in structural as well as cosmetic uses in building materials. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to discovering the presence of asbestos in a building, not to mention what legal requirements apply in any given state throughout the entire process.

Durability

Asbestos is a very durable mineral. It is resistant to things like corrosion, electricity, fire, pressure, friction, and even sound. When thinking about various building materials, it is clear why this would be such a popular material choice. Virtually any application falls into one of the categories listed above, meaning asbestos could be expected to be found in anything from cement, paint, insulation, pipes, and sealants. Older homes are much more susceptible to the presence of asbestos by comparison, but any building constructed prior to 1978 should be considered with caution.

However, while this material is durable, there are times when an otherwise harmless asbestos-containing material can become exposed. The most common examples of this include damage to buildings from fire, water, wind, or renovation projects. These instances can cause mold or other damage, exposing the asbestos fibers in materials spreading and spreading them into the air.

Health Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure has been linked to several types of cancer, as well as debilitating lung diseases. This life-threatening risk of exposure is enough to motivate anyone who is concerned for their safety and the safety of others to begin the process of removing asbestos from their premises. However, the risk of asbestos exposure could be greatly increased during the process of removal. In fact, asbestos abatement, the removal of asbestos, is a job that requires the professional and legal peace of mind that goes beyond DIY projects. 

Not only is the exposure risk much higher when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed and removed but the asbestos fibers can easily be spread throughout the rest of the building during this process if done improperly. Beyond that, professional help will still be required in order to ensure that the asbestos, once removed, is disposed of properly, according to the specific laws for that state. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has various laws and regulations related to asbestos and the hazards it poses. The information available on their website is a great place to start, but it is also worth noting that when it comes to the removal of asbestos, each state has its own rules related to the disclosure of the presence of asbestos. While some people may be tempted to hide what they know about their facility or home due to the fear of how much asbestos removal may cost, it’s important to know that there may be legal liability if someone is exposed to asbestos in the facility or home and files a lawsuit against you, especially if it is proven that you knew about the risk. 

Not only is it unsafe and inconsiderate to ignore or hide asbestos in your facility, it can also delay the inevitable. In general, though some asbestos testing requires more precision, home inspections will check for asbestos and be able to identify it in many circumstances. At the very least, asbestos will show up on the inspection report, and the inspector will note whether it seems to pose a risk and needs to be removed. 

Testing for Asbestos

Asbestos removal, regardless of where it’s located and why you want it removed, is best left to the professionals. The points made so far have shown that there are health concerns, legal concerns, and state regulations that make asbestos removal an unnecessary health risk for us to deal with by ourselves. Beyond all of that, there are professional testing methods that can take the guesswork out of the equation and give us peace of mind. Some of these methods include soil testing as well as air quality testing

Professional asbestos testing and removal is usually worth the cost.

Ultimately, the process of testing, removing, and legally disposing of asbestos in a safe and professional manner is time and money well spent. While it is a great idea to look into the legal requirements for your state, reaching out to a professional company that can test and remove asbestos is the easiest and safest solution to ensure that you are doing everything in a way that protects yourself from physical or legal ramifications. 

However, if your concern about removing asbestos is related to the possibility of being previously exposed to asbestos, it is important to reach out to your medical professional to determine whether you have been exposed to asbestos. Depending on how you were exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Be sure to reach out to the professionals at AsbestosClaims.law who can help you each step of the way.