Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and deposits of asbestos are found throughout
the world, including the United States. It is commercially mined, mainly in Canada
and South Africa. It is distinguished from other minerals in that its crystals form
long, thin fibers. What appears as a fiber is actually an agglomeration of hundreds
or thousands of fibers, each of which can be divided into microscopic fibrils. Once
mined, the asbestos rocks are crushed and milled and the resulting fibers are used
in various products.
Because of its unique properties: heat and fire resistance, high tensile strength,
poor electrical conductivity, and chemical resistance, asbestos proved well suited
for many uses in construction. It has been used in literally thousands of products.
A partial list includes fireproofing, pipe insulation, floor tile, sheet flooring,
ceiling tiles, acoustical plaster, fume hood panels, laboratory countertops, transite
siding shingles, roofing materials, brake shoes, gaskets, and construction mastics.
The only way to determine if a material contains asbestos is to have it analyzed by
a microscope, usually a Polarized Light Microscope. The material needs to be taken
to an accredited laboratory to officially determine the asbestos content. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has defined an asbestos-containing material (ACM) as a material
containing more than 1% asbestos.
When asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled and can become lodged in
lung tissue. When this occurs, large cells (called macrophages) attempt to engulf
the particles and eliminate them from the body. However, the macrophages are often
not able to digest the fibers, resulting in scarring of the lung tissue. This condition
is known as asbestosis. Asbestosis is not a cancer, but makes it very difficult to
breathe. Asbestos exposure has also been linked to cancer. When asbestos fibers become
lodged in the mesothelial cells, which line the chest and abdomen, it can cause a
cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure has also been shown to cause lung cancer.
People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos greatly increase the risk of developing
lung cancer. Ingestion of asbestos fibers has also been linked to gastrointestinal
cancers.
The vast majority of people who have developed an asbestos related disease have experienced
what is described as an occupational exposure, where they have breathed millions of
fibers per day for many months or years, due to the requirements of their job. But
there have been documented cases of persons developing disease from a minimal exposure.
For this reason, it is generally held that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
Additionally, asbestos exposure is often difficult to recognize, because there are
no acute symptoms . The typical latency period (the amount of time between exposure
and onset of symptoms) is 10-40 years.
There are numerous regulations, guidelines, and specifications which govern how an
abatement project is performed. All abatement workers must be trained, as well as
the monitors who inspect the removal process. The asbestos is normally removed from
within a plastic containment, which is placed under negative pressure with HEPA filtered
negative air machines. Air sampling is required for most abatement activities and
clearance samples are taken inside the abatement containment before the containment
is removed. Exterior area samples are also taken near the containment during the removal
activities to confirm the air surrounding the containment is safe. So, yes, because
of these stringent abatement requirements, it is safe to work adjacent to an asbestos
abatement project.
In general, ACM that is intact and undisturbed does not present a risk to human health.
If a building material has been damaged that you suspect may contain asbestos, contact
EHS@fairmontstate.edu or 304-367-4290 to report the suspected area. Environmental Health and Safety will
then determine if they have record of that particular material or if testing will
be necessary. The timeline for this process varies greatly depending on the location
and recency of testing or reports. If testing is deemed necessary-properly trained
individuals will be contacted and any needed repairs or clean-up will be done in a
manner that is safe and compliant with applicable regulations.
