Despite how the phrase sounds, friable asbestos does not have to do with putting asbestos in a frying pan and cooking it. However, despite how strange this term is and the fact that many people have never heard the phrase “friable asbestos”, it is very important to know what friable asbestos means and what makes it different from non-friable asbestos. Here’s all you need to know about what friable asbestos means, how to identify it, and what to do if you are exposed to it.










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If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related diseases.






















What Does Friable Asbestos Mean?









Despite the fact that asbestos has been used for centuries, many people were unaware of the dangers and long-term effects of asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, when the health effects of asbestos began to be published by researchers, the large corporations responsible for the rise of the asbestos industry kept those findings to themselves and continued using asbestos. Now that asbestos has been banned and/or regulated throughout most of the world, the dangers of asbestos are more accessible to the public than ever before. 





Understanding the word “Friable” when it comes to asbestos





However, one term that many people have probably not heard of is known as friable asbestos. But what does friable asbestos mean, and what exactly is friable asbestos after all? Let’s start with the adjective “friable”. Something that is friable means that it can be easily crumbled, and this term can be used to describe soil, dust, and even chalk. When it comes to materials science, friability takes on the meaning of breaking down under contact or stress. 





Friable Asbestos Definition





If we put all of this together when it comes to asbestos, a good working definition of friable asbestos is any asbestos-containing material that can be easily crushed, crumbled, or broken down. The risk is heightened by the fact that friable asbestos is not simply a risk of immediate contact for people who handle them. Instead, there are high levels of environmental risks- since friable asbestos can pass from the air into nearby water or soil. This airborne spread can be highly increased by the occurrence of natural disasters such as hurricanes or even things like tornados or wind storms.





















What Makes Asbestos Materials Friable









While the definition of friable asbestos is easy enough to understand, it’s helpful to differentiate between friable and non-friable asbestos (sometimes called indurate). At face value, we can say that non-friable asbestos includes asbestos-containing materials that are not easily crushed, crumbled, or broken down. However, there’s much more to the discussion than these simple comparisons.





Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos





What makes asbestos especially tricky on this topic is how airborne asbestos exposure can take place. Friable asbestos can be easily broken down, but even non-friable asbestos can become friable if the materials become damaged, corroded, or deteriorate over time. In fact, even working with asbestos materials, both friable and non-friable, can lead to a compromise in their quality and material stability. This can happen immediately, or over time, but in either case, it will pose a significant health hazard and medical danger. 





Replacing Friable or Non-Friable Asbestos





Most people who come to understand the potential dangers of asbestos will be concerned enough about replacing the asbestos-containing materials in their homes that they will not care whether those materials are friable or non-friable. The idea is, it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, it’s very important to know that when making the transition from asbestos to non-asbestos-containing materials, the risk of exposure is often at its highest. 





This is especially true in home renovation projects or repairs after natural disasters have occurred (hurricanes, flooding, tornados, etc.). Materials that are not naturally categorized as friable asbestos may have been damaged to the point that they can be easily airborne, meaning that anyone that comes into contact with them can be exposed to asbestos. 





This unfortunate fact can even be true in the case of a fire in a building containing asbestos- either friable or non-friable. Even though asbestos is a fireproofing material, in the case of a fire, asbestos materials can spread fibers into the air and surrounding area, causing a health risk for anyone who comes into contact with the area. 





Friable or Non-Friable Asbestos: A Job for the Professionals





Regardless of whether asbestos-containing materials are friable or non-friable, it is always safest to leave the removal and/or replacement of these materials to professionals. Asbestos materials, whether naturally friable or made friable by deterioration can attach themselves to clothing or can be released into the atmosphere. 





Unfortunately, asbestos fibers are very fine- even microscopic. Additionally, asbestos fibers have no smell or taste. In summary, this means that our senses cannot “sense” the exposure of asbestos fibers; we can’t see them, smell them or taste them. Unfortunately, this means that there’s no way to guarantee safety from exposure during a renovation or repair process involving asbestos-containing materials, regardless if they’re considered friable or non-friable. 





Leaving Asbestos Removal to the Professionals





Not only is it better for safety reasons to allow professional companies to deal with the safe removal of asbestos for personal health- it’s also better because of the various regulations that have to do with how asbestos is supposed to be disposed of. Professional companies will ensure that asbestos is not disposed of in illegal ways, such as being burned, buried, or simply thrown into a dumpster. The improper removal and discard of asbestos-containing materials can result in criminal charges, so allowing a professional company to take care of this is money well spent since it’s in the best interest of your health (and sanity!). 













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What to Do When Asbestos Exposure Takes Place









The threat of asbestos exposure is very serious. For many people, the unfortunate reality of being exposed to asbestos does not set in until decades down the road. In fact, for many people, symptoms related to asbestos do not show up for as much as four decades! This is what is known as the long latency of asbestos illness. 





With asbestos-related diseases, early discovery and intervention are critical.





Since exposure to asbestos is not accompanied by smell, taste, or sight, asbestos illness is normally not known until a serious disease or cancer has developed. Because of this, one of the most important factors related to asbestos diseases is time. Early intervention is critical. Being proactive and cautious is very important, and can help you with getting a head start with treating the disease in an earlier phase, or securing the funds related to treatment in the event of an asbestos-related settlement. 





Diseases Related to Friable Asbestos Exposure





While the risk of disease is serious for both friable and non-friable asbestos, it’s difficult to determine whether non-friable asbestos has been damaged to the point of becoming friable. For this reason, it is always best to assume that the presence of any damaged or airborne asbestos is a serious health hazard. This is particularly true in the case of older homes that used a wide variety of asbestos-containing materials. 












                    

                        

                        
                            

                                
                                    
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Even non-lethal asbestos diseases can be painful and debilitating, and can lead to worse health conditions.





There is a range of non-malignant and malignant diseases tied to asbestos exposure. However, don’t let these categories fool you. Even in the case of non-malignant asbestos diseases, such as asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, these are detrimental to personal health and will cause intense pain, discomfort, and a diminished quality of life. While ongoing research is still needed in order to link asbestos to certain types of cancer, the kinds of malignant diseases that have been sufficiently linked to asbestos exposure include lung, stomach, colon, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and ovarian cancer.













       
        
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You May be Entitled to Financial Compensation for Asbestos Exposure





In either case, the cost of these treatments can quickly skyrocket. It’s important to know that your instance of asbestos exposure may entitle you to financial compensation. The most important first step to take is to reach out to your healthcare provider if you know or suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos. Once this is determined, reach out to the good folks at AsbestosClaims.Law to determine if you are eligible for compensation to help pay for your treatments. While this process can seem overwhelming, it’s important to know that compensation can often be received without the need to file a lawsuit. Further, the professionals at Asbestos Claims are here to make the process easy and stress-free for you.





















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For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.





Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years.  





At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.





Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones. 





If you believe that you or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.





This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 





There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)





If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.





In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.





There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.





If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.





Introducing the largest database of asbestos information on the planet.
W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.