Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was added to various to a variety of products to provide insulation and fire protection. Until the 1970’s, many types of building products and insulation contained asbestos. Common products in buildings that may contain asbestos (if manufactured before 1970) and may release fibers include: steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducting; certain floor tiling containing vinyl, asbestos, rubber and asphalt; soundproofing or decorative material; door gaskets in furnaces, wood and coal burning stoves; patching and joint compounds; cement roofing, shingles and siding; and artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas fireplaces.

Evidence of the health effects of asbestos use can be seen in the health problems being experienced by the rescue and cleanup workers who were present for the cleanup effort at the World Trade Center site after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Many workers experienced upper and lower bronchial tract problems, lung ailments and in some cases death.

Most household and/or building products today do not contain asbestos. Today, products that are made with asbestos that may be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. We are all exposed to small amounts of asbestos in our daily lives but most people do not develop associated health problems. Breathing in high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity), and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs with fibrous tissue.)

Asbestos fibers, of which there are several types, can only be positively identified by with a scanning electron microscope and should be left to qualified contractors to identify and remove them.

Filed under: Health & Safety