Typically, a person becomes exposed to asbestos from work or even home but a third risk is for people that live near places such as shipyards, steel mills, power plants, refineries, and so on where asbestos is used. What happens is that the fibers become disrupted, contaminating nearby residential areas. In addition to the industries mentioned, other common areas include maritime, construction, automotive repair (specifically brakes and clutches), roofing, and railroads.
Just as asbestos can be a serious problem for some types of businesses, it can also exist in many homes and schools. Prior to the 1970s, some materials used for building structures contained asbestos. In fact, an estimated 30 million tons of asbestos fiber was used just in the U.S. during this time, with some winding up in homes and schools.
Okay, so how can you make sure you are safe in your own home? First, remember that buying a home, and even one built prior to 1970 does not mean asbestos is a problem. Most people that come down with asbestos related health problems worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent, not from exposure at home. In addition, remember that the majority of people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not become ill.
However, if for any reason, you r suspect that your home may have asbestos products, contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to request a listing of licensed or certified techniques who can check the home for asbestos and if found, remove it. The EPA may also recommend that you contact a separate firm to have them conduct an assessment to confirm there is no asbestos present from the other finding.
Anytime you’re contemplating home construction, assume that some of the materials will contain asbestos, unless marked asbestos free. Contact all manufacturers and get their guarantee that none of their building stock has asbestos fibers. You can’t be too careful.
If you plan on purchasing a home, the law dictates that the seller must acknowledge any hazardous materials on-site, including asbestos. If you rent an apartment built before 1970, chances are good that there is some asbestos somewhere. Remember though, that it’s only dangerous if the fibers are released into the air. As long as it stays inside the wall, you will be fine.
OSHA issued standards in 1995 for testing, maintenance, and disclosure of asbestos for the workplace. However, rental property is also categorized under this ruling, meaning that property owners arerequired to disclose to potential renters any existing asbestos. With that information, you can make the determination of living there orlooking at other rental properly.
