Asbestos spills can affect everyone involved in a building project, including homeowners, business owners, building owners, and contractors. Of primary concern is the threat to human health caused by the release of asbestos fibers into the air. Once these fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can become lodged inside the lungs or abdominal cavity, where …
Although asbestos mining and production in the United States has significantly dropped since the 1980s, asbestos exposure continues to raise concerns. For example, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) was recently dispatched to Ansonia, Connecticut where they investigated reports of contamination in the Naugatuck River. As part of their investigation, a nearby building …
Asbestos dominated American manufacturing for over half of the 20th century. It was used across nearly all industries, including the construction of homes, offices, schools, ships, roadways, and more. Its tensile strength, heat-resistance, and insulative properties suggested that it could propel us to new technological and economical heights. However, by the 1970s it was clear …
Let’s take a little trip back to the 70s. What might the well-appointed family room look like in the 1970s? The walls would be painted or wallpapered, likely with trendy tones of gold, orange, and avocado green. Seating would include a hip rattan hanging chair flanked by rattan side tables and rattan shelves (basically, rattan …
When disasters strike, and homes are affected, we get calls. Even though the most recent disaster in the news was Hurricane Ian, we even got calls from Florida. Depending on when your house was built, asbestos could be present in the materials used for construction. Along the same lines, if you have any renovation planned …
Despite widespread bans and heavy federal, state, and local regulations concerning its use, asbestos is still making the headlines today. For example, a public library in Normal, Illinois is currently studying options to deal with asbestos in an older section of their building. Asbestos in older structures, known as “legacy asbestos”, continues to haunt homeowners …
The devastating effects of asbestos on human health prompted several U.S. federal agencies to ban many asbestos-containing materials by 1978. However, did you know that currently asbestos is not totally banned and can still be used in the manufacture of products such as cement shingles, floor tiles, wallboard, and roofing materials? Further, homes built prior …
It seems we hear a lot about COPD lately. COVID may have brought more attention to the disease. Here is some information on both asbestos and COPD and how they are related. The harmful properties of asbestos were identified as early as the 1920s, when a British doctor noted that asbestos can cause lung “fibrosis.” …
In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule prohibiting the manufacture, importation, processing, and distribution in commerce of most asbestos-containing products. However, this rule was soon contested by domestic and foreign industries and the court ultimately invalidated the rule “based on findings that the EPA did not present sufficient evidence to justify …
Asbestos mining and manufacturing have diminished since the 1970s, when serious health hazards were directly linked to its exposure. Since that time, asbestos has been highly regulated by federal, state, and local agencies. For example, in the late 1970s the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard and gas fireplace …
