ruj: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/453.html
This
booklet will help you understand asbestos: what it is, its health effects,
where it is in your home, and what to do about it. Even if asbestos is in your
home, this is usually NOT a serious problem. The mere presence of asbestos in a
home or a building is not hazardous. The danger is that asbestos materials may
become damaged over time. Damaged asbestos may release asbestos fibers and
become a health hazard.
THE BEST THING TO DO WITH ASBESTOS MATERIAL IN GOOD
CONDITION IS TO LEAVE IT ALONE! Disturbing it may create a
health hazard where none existed before. Read this booklet before you have any
asbestos material inspected, removed, or repaired.
Where Asbestos Hazards May Be Found In The Home
- Some
roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.
- Houses
built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.
- Asbestos
may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall
and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.
- Artificial
ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain
asbestos.
- Older
products such as stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.
- Walls
and floors around woodburning 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.
Disclaimer
This document may be reproduced without change, in
whole or in part, without permission, except for use as advertising material or
product endorsement. Any such reproduction should credit the American Lung
Association, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The use of all or any part of this document in
a deceptive or inaccurate manner or for purposes of endorsing a particular
product may be subject to appropriate legal action.
Statement by the American Lung Association: The Statements in this
brochure are based in part upon the results of a workshop concerning asbestos
in the home which was sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
and the American Lung Association (ALA). The sponsors believe that this
brochure provides an accurate summary of useful information discussed at the
workshop and obtained from other sources. However, ALA did not develop the
underlying information used to create the brochure and does not warrant the
accuracy and completeness of such information. ALA emphasizes that asbestos
should not be handled, sampled, removed or repaired by anyone other than a
qualified professional.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively
identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of
asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to
strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.
How Can Asbestos Affect My Health?
From
studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we
know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased
risk of:
- lung
cancer:
-- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity,
-- asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.
The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases
with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling
asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have
usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms
of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the
first exposure to asbestos.
Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos,
as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems.
However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can
be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time,
increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if
handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more
likely to create a health hazard.
Where Can I Find Asbestos And When
Can It Be A Problem?
Most products made today do not contain asbestos.
Those few products made which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are
required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1970s, many types of
building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos.
Common products that might have contained asbestos in the past, and conditions
which may release fibers, include:
- STEAM
PIPES, BOILERS, and FURNACE DUCTS insulated with an asbestos blanket or
asbestos paper tape. These materials may release asbestos fibers if
damaged, repaired, or removed improperly.
- RESILIENT
FLOOR TILES (vinyl asbestos, asphalt, and rubber), the backing on VINYL
SHEET FLOORING, and ADHESIVES used for installing floor tile. Sanding
tiles can release fibers. So may scraping or sanding the backing of sheet
flooring during removal.
- CEMENT
SHEET, MILLBOARD, and PAPER used as insulation around furnaces and
woodburning stoves. Repairing or removing appliances may release asbestos
fibers. So may cutting, tearing, sanding, drilling, or sawing insulation.
- DOOR
GASKETS in furnaces, wood stoves, and coal stoves. Worn seals can release
asbestos fibers during use.
- SOUNDPROOFING
OR DECORATIVE MATERIAL sprayed on walls and ceilings. Loose, crumbly, or
water-damaged material may release fibers. So will sanding, drilling, or
scraping the material.
- PATCHING
AND JOINT COMPOUNDS for walls and ceilings, and TEXTURED PAINTS. Sanding,
scraping, or drilling these surfaces may release asbestos.
- ASBESTOS
CEMENT ROOFING, SHINGLES, and SIDING. These products are not likely to
release asbestos fibers unless sawed, dilled, or cut.
- ARTIFICIAL
ASHES AND EMBERS sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces. Also, other older
household products such as FIREPROOF GLOVES, STOVE-TOP PADS, IRONING BOARD
COVERS, and certain HAIRDRYERS.
- AUTOMOBILE
BRAKE PADS AND LININGS, CLUTCH FACINGS, and GASKETS.
What Should Be Done About Asbestos In
The 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.
Generally, material in good condition will not
release asbestos fibers. THERE IS NO DANGER unless fibers are released and
inhaled into the lungs.
Check material 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 air flow.
Sometimes, the best way to deal with slightly
damaged material is to limit access to the area and not touch or disturb it. Discard
damaged or worn asbestos gloves, stove-top pads, or ironing board covers.
Check with local health, environmental, or other appropriate officials to find
out proper handling and disposal procedures.
If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged,
or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair
or removal by a professional is needed. Before you have your house remodeled,
find out whether asbestos materials are present.
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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. Taking samples
yourself is not recommended. If you nevertheless choose to take the samples
yourself, take care not to release asbestos fibers into the air or onto yourself.
Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed (by remodeling,
for example) should be left alone. Only material that is damaged or will be
disturbed should be sampled. Anyone who samples asbestos-containing materials
should have as much information as possible on the handling of asbestos
before sampling, and at a minimum, should observe the following procedures:
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How To Manage An Asbestos Problem
If the
asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed, do nothing! If it
is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal.
REPAIR
usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material.
Sealing
(encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds
the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released.
Pipe, furnace, and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way. This
should be done only by a professional trained to handle asbestos safely.
Covering(enclosure)
involves placing something over or around the material that contains asbestos
to prevent release of fibers. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a
protective wrap or jacket.
With any
type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Repair is usually cheaper than
removal, but it may make later removal of asbestos, if necessary, more
difficult and costly. Repairs can either be major or minor.
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Asbestos Do's And Don'ts For The
Homeowner
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Major
repairs must be done only by a professional trained in methods for safely
handling asbestos.
Minor
repairs should also be done by professionals since there is always a risk of
exposure to fibers when asbestos is disturbed.
Doing
minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos
materials can create a hazard where none existed. If you nevertheless choose to
do minor repairs, you should have as much information as possible on the
handling of asbestos before doing anything. Contact your state or local health
department or regional EPA office for information about asbestos training
programs in your area. Your local school district may also have information
about asbestos professionals and training programs for school buildings. Even
if you have completed a training program, do not try anything more than minor
repairs. Before undertaking minor repairs, carefully examine the area around
the damage to make sure it is stable. As a general matter, any damaged area
which is bigger than the size of your hand is not a minor repair.
Before
undertaking minor repairs, be sure to follow all the precautions described
earlier for sampling asbestos material. Always wet the asbestos material using
a fine mist of water containing a few drops of detergent. Commercial products
designed to fill holes and seal damaged areas are available. Small areas of
material such as pipe insulation can be covered by wrapping a special fabric,
such as rewettable glass cloth, around it. These products are available from
stores (listed in the telephone directory under Safety Equipment and
Clothing") which specialize in asbestos materials and safety items.
REMOVAL
is usually the most expensive method and, unless required by state or local
regulations, should be the last option considered in most situations. This is
because removal poses the greatest risk of fiber release. However, removal may
be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will
disturb asbestos material. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material
is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and
must be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may
actually increase the health risks to you and your family.
Asbestos Professionals: Who Are They
And What Can They Do?
Asbestos
professionals are trained in handling asbestos material. The type of
professional will depend on the type of product and what needs to be done to
correct the problem. You may hire a general asbestos contractor or, in some
cases, a professional trained to handle specific products containing asbestos.
Asbestos
professionals can conduct home inspections, take samples of suspected material,
assess its condition, and advise about what corrections are needed and who is
qualified to make these corrections. Once again, material in good condition
need not be sampled unless it is likely to be disturbed. Professional
correction or abatement contractors repair or remove asbestos materials.
Some
firms offer combinations of testing, assessment, and correction. A professional
hired to assess the need for corrective action should not be connected with an
asbestos-correction firm. It is better to use two different firms so there is
no conflict of interest. Services vary from one area to another around the
country.
The
federal government has training courses for asbestos professionals around the
country. Some state and local governments also have or require training or
certification courses. Ask asbestos professionals to document their completion
of federal or state-approved training. Each person performing work in your home
should provide proof of training and licensing in asbestos work, such as
completion of EPA-approved training. State and local health departments or EPA
regional offices may have listings of licensed professionals in your area.
If you
have a problem that requires the services of asbestos professionals, check
their credentials carefully. Hire professionals who are trained, experienced,
reputable, and accredited - especially if accreditation is required by state or
local laws. Before hiring a professional, ask for references from previous
clients. Find out if they were satisfied. Ask whether the professional has
handled similar situations. Get cost estimates from several professionals, as
the charges for these services can vary.
Though
private homes are usually not covered by the asbestos regulations that apply to
schools and public buildings, professionals should still use procedures described
during federal or state-approved training. Homeowners should be alert to the
chance of misleading claims by asbestos consultants and contractors. There have
been reports of firms incorrectly claiming that asbestos materials in homes
must be replaced. In other cases, firms have encouraged unnecessary removals or
performed them improperly. Unnecessary removals are a waste of money. Improper
removals may actually increase the health risks to you and your family. To
guard against this, know what services are available and what procedures and
precautions are needed to do the job properly.
In
addition to general asbestos contractors, you may select a roofing, flooring,
or plumbing contractor trained to handle asbestos when it is necessary to
remove and replace roofing, flooring, siding, or asbestos-cement pipe that is
part of a water system. Normally, roofing and flooring contractors are exempt
from state and local licensing requirements because they do not perform any
other asbestos-correction work. Call 1-800-USA-ROOF for names of qualified
roofing contractors in your area. (Illinois residents call 708-318-6722.) For
information on asbestos in floors, read "Recommended Work Procedures for
Resilient Floor Covers." You can write for a copy from the Resilient Floor
Covering Institute, 966 Hungerford Drive, Suite 12-B, Rockville, MD 20850.
Enclose a stamped, business-size, self-addressed envelope.
Asbestos-containing
automobile brake pads and linings, clutch facings, and gaskets should be
repaired and replaced only by a professional using special protective
equipment. Many of these products are now available without asbestos. For more
information, read "Guidance for Preventing Asbestos Disease Among Auto
Mechanics," available from regional EPA offices.
If You Hire A Professional Asbestos
Inspector
- Make
sure that the inspection will include a complete visual examination and
the careful collection and lab analysis of samples. If asbestos is
present, the inspector should provide a written evaluation describing its location
and extent of damage, and give recommendations for correction or
prevention.
- Make
sure an inspecting firm makes frequent site visits if it is hired to
assure that a contractor follows proper procedures and requirements. The
inspector may recommend and perform checks after the correction to assure
the area has been properly cleaned.
If You Hire A Corrective-Action
Contractor
- Check
with your local air pollution control board, the local agency responsible
for worker safety, and the Better Business Bureau. Ask if the firm has had
any safety violations. Find out if there are legal actions filed against
it.
- Insist
that the contractor use the proper equipment to do the job. The workers
must wear approved respirators, gloves, and other protective clothing.
- Before
work begins, get a written contract specifying the work plan, cleanup, and
the applicable federal, state, and local regulations which the contractor
must follow (such as notification requirements and asbestos disposal
procedures). Contact your state and local health departments, EPA's
regional office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's
regional office to find out what the regulations are. Be sure the
contractor follows local asbestos removal and disposal laws. At the end of
the job, get written assurance from the contractor that all procedures
have been followed.
- Assure
that the contractor avoids spreading or tracking asbestos dust into other
areas of your home. They should seal the work area from the rest of the
house using plastic sheeting and duct tape, and also turn off the heating
and air conditioning system. For some repairs, such as pipe insulation
removal, plastic glove bags may be adequate. They must be sealed with tape
and properly disposed of when the job is complete.
- Make
sure the work site is clearly marked as a hazard area. Do not allow
household members and pets into the area until work is completed.
- Insist
that the contractor apply a wetting agent to the asbestos material with a
hand sprayer that creates a fine mist before removal. Wet fibers do not
float in the air as easily as dry fibers and will be easier to clean up.
- Make
sure the contractor does not break removed material into small pieces.
This could release asbestos fibers into the air. Pipe insulation was usually
installed in preformed blocks and should be removed in complete pieces.
- Upon
completion, assure that the contractor cleans the area well with wet mops,
wet rags, sponges, or HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) vacuum
cleaners. A regular vacuum cleaner must never be used. Wetting helps
reduce the chance of spreading asbestos fibers in the air. All asbestos
materials and disposable equipment and clothing used in the job must be
placed in sealed, leakproof, and labeled plastic bags. The work site should
be visually free of dust and debris. Air monitoring (to make sure there is
no increase of asbestos fibers in the air) may be necessary to assure that
the contractor's job is done properly. This should be done by someone not
connected with the contractor.
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Caution!
Do not
dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. These steps will
disturb tiny asbestos fibers and may release them into the air. Remove dust
by wet mopping or with a special HEPA vacuum cleaner used by trained asbestos
contractors.
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For more information, contact your local American Lung Association at
their website at www.lungusa.org for copies of:
- Indoor
Air Pollution Fact Sheet - Asbestos
- Air
Pollution In Your Home?
- Other
publications on indoor pollution
For more information on asbestos in other consumer
products, call the CPSC Hotline or write to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Washington, DC 20207. The CPSC Hotline has information on certain
appliances and products, such as the brands and models of hair dryers that contain
asbestos. Call CPSC at 1-800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter (TTY) for the hearing
impaired is available at (301) 595-7054. The Maryland TTY number is
1-800-492-8104.
To find out whether your state has a training and
certification program for asbestos removal contractors, and for information on
EPA's asbestos programs, call the EPA at 202-554-1404.
For more information on asbestos identification and
control activities, contact the Asbestos Coordinator in the EPA Regional Office
for your region, or your state or local health department.
CPSC documents are in the public domain; a CPSC
document may be reproduced without change in part or whole by an individual or
organization without permission. If it is reproduced, however, the Commission
would appreciate knowing how it is used. Write the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, Office of Information and Public Affairs, 4330 East West Highway,
Bethesda, MD 20814 or send an e-mail via CPSC's Online Form.
All CPSC publications - including exclusive
web-only content - are available to consumers to print for free from their
home, school or office computers. To order hard copies of any of the
Neighborhood Safety Library Publications or Technical Reports and Handbooks,
please e-mail CPSC. Be sure to include your
mailing address, and specify the document number and name of the publication
desired. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or
death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the
agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer
product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is
committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire,
electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of
consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and
household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and
injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related
injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov,
call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for
the hearing and speech impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and
product safety information at www.cpsc.gov.
To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act http://www.epa.gov/region2/ahera/
Related Information
- EPA's
National Asbestos Web Site
- Glossary
- Tools,
documents, regulations, and related links
- Information
for Local Education Agencies
- Information for
Contractors
- Asbestos laws and
regulations
- Regulations in
New Jersey
- Regulations
in New York
Asbestos is a
naturally occurring fibrous mineral used in building materials because of its
heat and fire resistant properties. Common uses of asbestos include insulation,
fire proofing, sound proofing, ceiling and floor tiles, the lining of heating
and ventilation ductwork, window glazing, and adhesives. Many of these asbestos-containing
materials (ACM) can be found in schools, in businesses, and in your home.
In a solid and undisturbed state, asbestos poses minimal hazards and is very
resilient. When damaged
and friable
(dry and crumbly), however, asbestos may cause many serious health effects. In
1986, the Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was signed into law, requiring public and
private non-profit primary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for
asbestos-containing building materials. Although asbestos is hazardous when
inhaled, the risk of exposure to airborne fibers is very low. Therefore, removal of
asbestos from schools is often not the best course of action. It may
even create a dangerous situation when none previously existed. EPA only requires
removal of asbestos to prevent significant public exposure during demolition or
renovation. EPA does, however, require an in-place, pro-active asbestos
management program for all local education
agencies (LEA) in order to ensure asbestos-containing
building materials (ACBM) remains in good condition and is undisturbed by
students, faculty, and staff.
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