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ABOUT ASBESTOS
WHAT IS ABESTOS?
Abestos is a family of naturally occurring minerals found in varying quantities throughout the world. In nature, it is found bound with other minerals in rock form, which is harmless when left undisturbed. Once separated from the rock, asbestos appears in a fibrous, fluffy form.
WHY WAS ASBESTOS CALLED "THE MIRACLE FIBER"?
Asbestos offers an unique combination of properties making it extremely useful to the construction industry. Asbestos was used in over 3,000 products.
Advantages include:
- excellent tensile strength as reinforcing material;
- protection from fire;
- absorption of heat from friction;
- resistance to corrosion;
- insulation from heat and cold;
- insulation from noise.
WHERE IS IT FOUND IN CONSTRUCTION?
More than 3,000 products in the construction industry contain asbestos, so unique are its properties. Most commonly, asbestos is found in buildings built prior to 1980 in areas such as:
- fireproofing;
- ceiling and floor tiles;
- textured acoustical ceilings;
- insulation on pipers, boilers, heating ducts;
- plaster - as binder
- roofing products,
- surfacing materials, as binder in exterior stucco.
WHAT MAKES ASBESTOS SO HAZARDOUS?
When Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM) break down because of aging and/or frequent contact, tiny microscopic particles may be released into the air and inhaled. Asbestos fibers have been linked to three major diseases:
- asbestosis -- a non-cancerous respiratory disease;
- mesothelioma -- a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and intestines;
- lung cancer.
The potential medical hazards associated with asbestos were not verified until the late 1960s, nearly 50 years after it was first used in insulation. Although, the health hazards from exposure to Asbestos and the health effects from exposure to Asbestos dust, have been known for hundreds of years.
Landlords Cope with the High Cost of Asbestos
Asbestos: Taking It's Toll on the Value of Commercial Property
Environmental Liabilities Surprise Banks
Is Your Property Waiting to be Discovered as a Headline in the News?
Two Orange County Residents Accused of Spreading Asbestos.
The Costs for Not Surveying for Asbestos
Building Managers are now focusing on the need for Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos Laws Apply to Everyone
Follow the Changes made in Regulations in the past decade.
What is Inconsistent Due Diligence?
Federal and State Regulations Governing Asbestos
(Table with Links for more detail).
Giving Notice About the Presence of Asbestos
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