Asbestos Explained

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Asbestos Explained

Asbestos is a term used to refer to a natural mineral that was largely used in the past as a building material due to its heat-resistance properties. There are different kinds of asbestos and the most common is the serpentine group which consists of chrysotile, also known as white asbestos. The other type of asbestos is the amphiboles group which comprises crocidolite, also called blue asbestos and amosite, known as brown asbestos.

Many years passed before asbestos was discovered to be the cause of some serious and deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The risk posed by asbestos materials cannot be denied but it is important to highlight that asbestos become hazardous when the fibres develop into airborne and, thus, are likely to be inhaled or ingested. Consequently, asbestos materials are not a menace if they are in good condition.

Apart from the industrial uses of asbestos, this material has been widely used in house building and other appliances which now can pose a hazard to people living there or handling those devices. The reason for asbestos extensive use was the material ability to tolerate high temperatures. This material offered protection against cold, fire, noise, dust, corrosion, etc.

Health consequences associated with asbestos material were not discovered until after the damage was done. Asbestos-related diseases have a latency period of more than 40 years, in most cases, and this is the reason why the risks were known after asbestos material had been widely used.

Asbestos information

The name asbestos refers to a natural mineral that was used in construction and in many home items in the past. This material possesses heat-resistant qualities that made it useful for construction where it was employed as fire proofing and weather resistant material. Some years ago it was discovered that asbestos has serious health consequences and its use was prohibited. The main problem appears when the material is damaged, when it is cut and when the material is to be disposed of.

There are three varieties of asbestos: white, brown and blue. This material appears in the form of hairs or fibers and their characteristics differ according to the type of asbestos. Blue and brown asbestos were prohibited in 1986 and the use of white asbestos was reduced in the same year. Nevertheless, all the types of asbestos are still present in home and work places.

When talking about the risks asbestos poses to health, it is important to highlight that the danger arises when the fibers becomes airborne and thus they can be easily ingested or inhaled. But not all fibers represent a hazard. Long fibers and small ones are generally eliminated when coughing or breathing. They do not stay in the lungs. On the contrary, there are fibers of certain size or that belong to a particular type of asbestos that insert in the lungs and are responsible for the development of mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases.

In conclusion, all type of asbestos have to be managed with care and in all cases the necessary protective measures should be taken.

Asbestos definitions

Many things have been said about asbestos, but also many times we do not know nor understand the definitions of some terminology related to it. For that reason we have gathered some of the most common words used when we speak about asbestos.

Here you are:

Abatement: This is a method that has been accepted with the intention of handeling materials that contain asbestos (i.e., enclosure, removal, and encapsulation).

Asbestos Building Survey: By this survey, it is possible to recognize, estimate and measure the ACM in a certain location (i.e. building, factory).

Asbestos Encapsulation: This means the act of covering a material that contains asbestos. This can be done whether by penetrating an encapsulating agent or by covering the contaminated object with a material impregnated with an agent which was previously latex encapsulated.

Asbestos Enclosure: When we talk about asbestos enclosure we are making reference to the act of physical enclosure of those materials contaminated with asbestos right on the place where this material was found. The enclosure is made by placing a hard permanent barrier. One thing to be considered to be enclosed in case that the walls are not pulled down, are the insulates straight up heating risers that are located at the back of outside perimeter walls.

Asbestos Containing Material: (by NYCDEP) A material is considered asbestos containing when it contains 1% o greater asbestos according to laboratory tests.

Asbestos Removal Project : This means the objective elimination of materials contaminated with asbestos. Just a certified service provider who employs skilled and authorized personnel who follows the applicable regulations, can do this.

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