How to Get Asbestos Out of the Air

The Long Latency of Asbestos Fibers

Asbestos-related diseases can take decades to show symptoms.

The problems of asbestos exposure manifest in many ways, none of which is immediate. This is because asbestos is a substance that suffers from two syndromes. One is the latency factor and the other is the proclivity to contract dose-response diseases, the hallmarks of asbestos-related diseases (ARD).

Latency Factor and Dose-response Diseases Hallmarks of Asbestos Exposure

People exposed to asbestos can be afflicted with ARDs long after being exposed to the substance. Sometimes, they can show up even 50 years after being exposed. People usually do not know they have an asbestos illness, simply because there are no symptoms for a long period. Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency.

Once their effects become known, embedded asbestos fibers can become lethal. This is because by the time the disease is diagnosed, the disease would have been in an advanced stage. This is true of mesothelioma, the lethal cancer associated with asbestos.Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, causing up to 80 percent of all cases.

Thus, these fibers and dust become the source for asbestos exposure. When people come into contact with them, they can either inhale them or swallow them, without even knowing that they have done so. 

The Air is a Good Source of Asbestos Fibers and Dust

The air is a good source of asbestos fibers and dust. The atmosphere is bombarded with a variety of floating microscopic particles that can find their way into people’s lungs. If some of these particles are asbestos fibers and dust, then they pose a risk to people inhaling them. These people then face the risk posed by latency factor and dose-response diseases.

If you worked in an industrial occupation or worksite before 1982, you were likely exposed to asbestos fibers at some point. 

Asbestos is highly resistant to heat, pressure and corrosion, so it was used in many products, vehicles and buildings. In particular, many workplaces like factories, refineries, foundries and shipyards involve high amounts of heat, and were built with a lot of asbestos.

People who worked in these industries or professions prior to 1982 may be at risk of developing significant health problems:

Tiny asbestos fibers embed in the body and lie in wait.

The problem for ordinary people is that these asbestos fibers and dust are microscopic in size, meaning not visible to the naked eye because of their size, which is up to 700 times smaller than human hair.These typically are friable asbestos, which can be easily crumbled and crushed into powder. This phenomenon is true of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) like floor tiles, POP ceilings, roofing materials, and other household products that use ACMs. 

All these kinds of products with ACMs populate the air with asbestos dust and fibers. Anyone in contact with these invisible particles can carry it with them inside their own lungs or on their persons via clothing, footwear, skin, and hair. Thus, such people become carriers of asbestos dust and fibers to become sources for family, household members, and others who regularly come into contact with them.

The United States is always at risk of natural calamities like earthquakes, hurricanes and the like and manmade disasters like 9/11. These cause air to be disturbed with billions of hazardous particles, including asbestos fibers and dust released from damaged products with ACMs in them. The extent to which these disasters spread suspended hazardous particles is difficult to gauge but suffice it to say it would be widespread.

Importance of Clean Air Free of Asbestos Fibers and Dust 

It is therefore vital that the air in the homes, workplaces, factories, and the atmosphere is as free of asbestos fibers and dust as possible. This is easier said than done because of the invisible nature of these particles.

The government has also charged some federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee the use of asbestos in public places and the removal of asbestos according to norms set by it. 

The EPA has enacted EPA Asbestos-Related Laws and issued EPA AsbestosRegulations. These cover a wide range of issues concerning asbestos.

For instance, it has a specific act called The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) pertaining to schools. This is enacted to ensure school children do not face any risk from asbestos exposure. Besides there are various other 

How to Get Asbestos Out of the Air?

First, it has to be determined if there is asbestos fibers and dust floating in the air. This is accomplished by undertaking an asbestos air test. The government has issued guidelines to do the test by an independent licensed asbestos assessor to assess the place. The assessor would carry out the necessary tasks to test the air and issue clearance certificate.   

An Asbestos Air Test 

An asbestos air test involves several stages. The first step is to make a visual assessment of structures. The assessor will identify materials with asbestos in them. If no material is found, the test may not be recommended.

The assessors will use a special filter and a sampling pump to draw samples of air from various areas within the place where the removal of structures has taken place. 

Prevention is the Best Form of Cure for Asbestos Exposure

People should care for their safety in their homes and follow healthy practices. They should periodically check for any broken tiles, roofing materials, POPs, and other products made with ACMs.

As long as people do not disturb any ACMs, they should be relatively safe.

They can also check with local and federal agencies periodically to see if any major demolition works have taken place near their homes to take special precautions during those events. It is advisable not to go near sites where demolition is taking place.

Nothing is 100%, but air filters can help remove many asbestos fibers.

The high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is capable of removing at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). 

Using HEPA filtersis an excellent way to keep the air clear of asbestos in homes. However, one HEPA filter for a home won’t be sufficient. Each separate room would require its own HEPA filter. Secondly, they need periodic maintenance to be effective.