ASBESTOS

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was mined for its useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength.  Asbestos is a toxic substance and a known carcinogen.  Asbestos can cause several serious diseases in humans and continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases such as:

• Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs, which is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis. 
• Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.
• Lung Cancer – Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia. People who have been exposed to asbestos and also are exposed to some other cancer-causing product, such as cigarette smoke, have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who have only been exposed to asbestos.

Symptoms of asbestos related diseases typically develop over a long period of years, typically 30 years, following asbestos exposure.

ACM can become a hazard when asbestos fibers become airborne and are then inhaled; this is what is considered asbestos exposure.  Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be crumbled or broken by hand pressure, is of the most concern because these fibers can be released into the air more readily and inhaled into the lungs. Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk.  ACM, however, may become hazardous and pose increased risk when the materials are damaged, are disturbed in some manner, or deteriorate over time and thus allow asbestos fibers to become airborne.

ASBESTOS IN SCHOOLS

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) asbestos program for schools that was passed by Congress in 1986.  AHERA requires public school districts and non-profit private schools to inspect their schools for asbestos containing building materials and prepare management plans, which recommend the best way to reduce the hazard from any asbestos that may be present. This approach is designed to keep asbestos fiber levels low by training people to recognize asbestos-containing materials and actively manage them. The school authority must notify parents, teachers and employer organizations of the plans, and then the plans must be implemented. The school district must also perform periodic surveillance of asbestos containing material every 6 months in its schools. AHERA also requires accreditation of abatement designers, contractor supervisors and workers, building inspectors, and school management plan writers.

EPA ASBESTOS BANS – Truth or Myth?

EPA has found that there are rather common misunderstandings about its 1989 bans on asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and products or uses.

Some media sources such as various newspaper and magazine articles, Internet information, even some currently available (but outdated) documents from the EPA and other federal agencies may contain statements about an EPA asbestos ban that are incorrect. In fact, in 1991 the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated much of the so-called "Asbestos Ban and Phase-out" rule and remanded it to the EPA.

Thus, much of the original 1989 EPA ban on the U.S. manufacturing, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce of many asbestos-containing products was set aside and did not take effect. Six asbestos-containing material categories are still subject to the 1989 asbestos ban. However, EPA has no existing bans on most other asbestos-containing products or uses.

EPA does NOT track the manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce of asbestos-containing products. It would be prudent for a consumer or other buyer to inquire as to the presence of asbestos in particular products, which would include inquiring of the dealer/supplier or manufacturer, referring to the product's "Material Safety Data Sheet" (MSDS), or considering having the material tested by a qualified laboratory for the presence of asbestos.

What Should You Do If Asbestos Is In Your Home?

If you think asbestos may be in your home, don't panic! Usually the best thing is to LEAVE asbestos material that is in good condition ALONE. Check materials regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Don't touch it, but look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers. This is particularly true if you often disturb it by hitting, rubbing, or handling it, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or airflow. 

If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, then repair or removal of the material(s) by a professional is needed. Before you have your house remodeled, find out whether asbestos materials are present. 
 

How To Identify Materials That Contain Asbestos

You can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.

Where Asbestos Hazards May Be Found In Your Home

·         Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement as well as roofing sealants.

·         Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.

·         Asbestos may be found in the sprayed-on acoustical ceiling material ( “Popcorn” )

·         Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints.

·         Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.

·         Older products such as stovetop pads and wire insulation may contain asbestos.

·         Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.

·         Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.

·         Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

·         Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.

·         Asbestos transite exhaust flues can also be found at water heaters, furnaces, and other heater exhaust flues.

·         Older HVAC ducts may be made out of asbestos paper or metal ducts may be sealed with asbestos seam tape   

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. The heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos-containing materials during renovation or demolition activities. Employees in the manufacturing industry are also likely to be exposed during the manufacturing of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) as well employees of the service industry during automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Asbestos is well recognized as an occupational health hazard and is highly regulated in both the construction and general industries. OSHA and EPA are the two main regulatory agencies that govern the asbestos regulations.  OSHA is concerned with occupational exposure to asbestos and the EPA is concerned with the protection of the environment.

For the construction industry, OSHA regulates asbestos exposure in all construction work, including but not limited to the following:

·         Demolition or salvage of structures where asbestos is present;

·         Removal or encapsulation of materials containing asbestos;

·         Construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, or renovation of structures, substrates, or portions thereof, that contain asbestos;

·         Installation of products containing asbestos;

·         Asbestos spill/emergency cleanup;

·         Transportation, disposal, storage, containment of and housekeeping activities involving asbestos or products containing asbestos, on the site or location at which construction activities are performed;

·         Excavation which may involve exposure to asbestos as a natural constituent which is not related to asbestos mining and milling activities;

·         Routine facility maintenance; and

·         Erection of new electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment, and alteration, conversion and improvement of the existing transmission and distribution lines and equipment.      

The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and enforce regulations to protect the general public from exposure to airborne contaminants that are known to be hazardous to human health.  EPA established National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), in accordance with Section 112 of the CAA, to protect the public. Asbestos was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under Section 112. On March 31, 1971, EPA identified asbestos as a hazardous pollutant, and on April 6, 1973, EPA first promulgated the Asbestos NESHAP in 40 CFR Part 61.

In 1990, a revised NESHAP regulation was promulgated by EPA. This pamphlet answers the most commonly asked questions about the Asbestos NESHAP for demolitions and renovations. Many of the questions included in this pamphlet have been raised by demolition and renovation contractors in recent years. Most questions relate to how a demolition or renovation contractor or building owner can best comply with the regulation. The responses assume that the questioner has a basic understanding of the Asbestos NESHAP and demolition and renovation practices.

The Asbestos NESHAP regulations protect the public by minimizing the release of asbestos fibers during activities involving the processing, handling, and disposal of asbestos-containing material. Accordingly, the Asbestos NESHAP specifies work practices to be followed during demolitions and renovations of all structures, installations, and buildings.  In addition, the regulations require the owner of the building and/or the contractor to notify applicable State and local agencies and/or EPA Regional Offices before all demolitions, or before renovations of buildings that contain a certain threshold amount of asbestos.

In the Southern portion of California, specifically Orange, Los Angeles, and portions of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the local enforcement agency of the asbestos NESHAP regulations is the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).  SCAQMD enforces the NESHAP regulations through SCAQMD Rule 1403.