asbestos Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used in various construction materials for their insulating and anti-flame

Where is it?
Currently, most products do not contain asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Committee on Consumer Goods Safety (CPSC) have banned the marketing of various products containing asbestos, and, for their part, manufacturers have agreed to restrict the use of others. Any product containing asbestos must bear a notice that it clearly specifies. However, many building materials and insulation before the 70 contain asbestos. They included the following: insulation for pipes and furnaces, asphalt shingle roof, exterior coverings, cardboard binder, flexible tiles, vinyl flooring, tile adhesives, sound-proof panels and decorative products for patching and adhesives, anti-flame gloves, grips, brake pads and belts, clutch facings and gaskets.

What are its effects on health?
The most dangerous asbestos fibers are too small to be visible. These fibers enter standby when the asbestos material deteriorates or breaks or when it is removed improperly. Once inhaled, the fibers accumulate in the lungs. Inhalation of high levels of asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the membranes of the thoracic and abdominal cavity) and asbestosis (irreversible lung fibrosis that can be fatal). The risk is directly proportional to the amount of inhaled asbestos fibers, the same being greater in smokers. The symptoms of these diseases do not manifest themselves until after many years of exposure to asbestos, being the most affected operators working in contact with high concentrations of it.

What can you do?
It is best not to touch the asbestos material is in good condition as this, usually does not give off fibers, having avoided any damage or deterioration and even touch the material. It is necessary to conduct a periodic review of the materials to make sure they are in good condition. By disposing of gloves, pot holders and ironing board covers asbestos, consult a specialist about the best way to do it.

The only possible way to tell at a glance whether a material contains asbestos is to see if it has the label that specifies it. If you do not have, you must take a sample of the material and have it analyzed. Until they know the outcome of the analysis, handling the material as if it actually had asbestos. Sampling must be performed by qualified personnel only, as if the drawing is done improperly, the risk may be higher than in the case of not doing anything about it.

If material damage is more than mild or if you are going to make parts at home that might affect you, you should hire specialized personnel to perform the repair or removal. Repair usually consists of covering the material by placing a protective wrap over or around it, so as to prevent release of fibers, or apply a sealer to maintain the cohesion of fibers bonded to the surface or preventing those undertakings emit. In general, repair is less expensive than mine, though, once repaired, the asbestos will be harder to remove later if necessary.

Can I do it myself?
The EPA advised to call a specialist to control, repair and removal of asbestos-containing materials, as the poor handling of these materials can lead to an increased risk of doing nothing would result. The specialist who performed the inspection should not be the same as going to effect the repair, due to a simple question of conflict of interest.

Before deciding to hire a specialist, ask it the federal or state license that enables it as such, and references from clients to know whether they were satisfied with their work. To avoid expensive removal work, risky and unnecessary seeking information about service providers available and the methods used and precautions to take to do the job properly.

If you have to carry out repair or removal of materials containing asbestos, be sure to mark the workplace as a risk area. Keep your family and your pets away until the job until completion of work. You should also take care that the personnel performing the tasks do not spread asbestos dust for the rest of the house, for example, through the shoe sole. The work area should be insulated with polyethylene films and should not go on the air conditioning or heating. Before asbestos removal, insist on the same applying a wetting agent with an atomizer or spray, since the fibers do not enter suspension wet as easily as dry and are easier to remove. Personnel in charge of the tasks should clean the area with a rag, sponge or rag. You can also use a vacuum with a HEPA filter for particulate matter. The asbestos material and disposable equipment and clothing should be placed in sealed bags and disposed of properly.