Most people think that the use of asbestos has been discontinued in this country and that we don’t really have to worry about it in new building products. The truth is that asbestos is still being used in some building products that can be found at local hardware stores. Some of the everyday products that may contain asbestos include roofing shingles, roofing felt, roof patching compound, cement siding, drywall and drywall mud, vinyl and asphalt floor tiles, and mastic adhesives for vinyl floors and carpeting.
Why is asbestos dangerous? Prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious and fatal illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease or inflammation of the tissues surrounding the lungs. As early as the 1900s, researchers began to notice a large number of premature deaths and lung problems in asbestos-mining towns. But it is not just a problem of the past; asbestos exposure continues to cause over 12,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral composed of long, thin, microscopic fibrous crystals. It was first used more than 4,000 years ago when the Greeks and Romans discovered that it was resistant to fire and heat. It has been used since then for a wide range of purposes. The word asbestos comes from the ancient Greek word meaning “unquenchable” or “inextinguishable.”
There are now many federal regulations concerning the handling of asbestos-containing materials, particularly when they are removed from commercial or public buildings during demolition or remodeling projects. When such materials are classified as “friable,” they may fall under federal regulations. Generally, friable asbestos-containing material is material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the pressure of an ordinary human hand. This is particularly dangerous because the fibers can become airborne and easily inhaled into the lungs. Once released by such crumbling, asbestos fibers are light enough to remain suspended in the air for hours or even days, long after other dust from the project has settled. A simple cotton face mask is not sufficient protection against these microscopic particles. Breathing in tiny particles of asbestos is what can make people sick, even though symptoms may not appear for decades.
Asbestos abatement can be extremely expensive because of the careful and tedious process required for safe removal. In non-commercial structures, such as residential dwellings, homeowners may not be subject to all of the same regulations that apply to commercial projects. However, the health risks associated with asbestos exposure are no less significant when working on DIY projects around the home. If you are working on an older home, don’t assume that a material is asbestos free simply because it looks harmless.