Proper Disposal of Asbestos Containing Materials
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been linked to a myriad of health complications. While its use can be traced back centuries, it was primarily utilized between the turn of the 20th century through the late 1970s in industrial capacities.
According to the U.S. EPA “on July 12, 1989, EPA issued a final rule banning most asbestos-containing products. In 1991, this regulation was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.” These ruling and regulations state that many products, such as flooring or corrugated paper, cannot contain asbestos. Additionally, they list restrictions on products that have not historically utilized asbestos, otherwise known as “new asbestos.”
Why the ban? Many workers that were exposed to asbestos during their careers, developed mesothelioma, a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Although a mesothelioma cure does not currently exist, mesothelioma doctors can often recommend treatment options to help combat the disease.
Currently, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Though not everyone exposed to asbestos will be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, no level of exposure is safe and even tests that indicate the presence of small samples of asbestos should be taken seriously.
So, What Exactly Is It?
Asbestos is a fibrous material that lends itself to construction compounds. It was used in most
capacities as an insulation compound, which could be added to a number of different materials. Many of these materials still exist today. In fact, asbestos-containing materials can be found in the majority of structures built before 1978.
It is important to remember that not all materials pose an immediate hazard. Asbestos must be rendered “friable” to be considered hazardous. Friable asbestos fibers are those that are located within a damaged or aged compound and can potentially be released into the air. When materials contain friable asbestos, they must be properly discarded or encased. However, there are numerous governmental regulations in place to ensure that these materials are disposed of safely.
How Is It Removed?
The asbestos removal process differs depending on the asbestos-containing material, but all removal methods aim to keep asbestos dust out of the air where it can be inhaled or ingested.
Certified professionals must be utilized for any asbestos removal projects. Here are some common steps and considerations normally taken to ensure this material is removed properly:
- Typically, asbestos removal utilizes moisture to weigh down the fibers so they fall to the floor where they can be discarded in approved asbestos waste disposal bags.
- Professionals understand the importance of isolating the removal area from the rest of the house or building, and workers are required to use protective equipment to prevent the dispersion of asbestos dust.
- During removal, work begins on the opposite side of any air-exhaust system and gradually moves towards the fan to prevent contamination of areas that have already been cleaned.
- After the removal process is complete, the area where the asbestos formerly existed is thoroughly wiped down with clean rags, which must then be properly discarded in labeled disposal bags.
- Once these areas are cleaned, every exposed surface will be wiped down, including protective sheeting that may have been used to isolate the area where the asbestos was located. All equipment and tools used are also thoroughly cleaned and left outside for some time.
- Additionally, the area where the fibers formerly existed will normally be sealed off to complete the removal process, since some asbestos fibers likely remain.
What Can I Do About It?
Firstly, a concerned home or building owner should begin a dialogue with an asbestos consulting service to ensure the material is indeed hazardous and friable. Next, it is important to choose a state-licensed asbestos abatement company to remove or encase the material. These companies are specially licensed to remove and dispose of asbestos in safe and appropriate manners.
Those who find asbestos within their home should monitor the material regularly and be careful not to disturb the compound. If these materials are intact and undisturbed, they will not pose an immediate hazard.
This story was contributed by Maacenter.org and Mesothelioma Cancer Center
- Mesothelioma Cancer Center http://www.asbestos.com/.
- Maacenter.org http://www.maacenter.org .
- (05/18/1999). "EPA Asbestos Materials Bans: Clarification" U.S. EPA http://www.epa.gov/asbestos//pubs/asbbans2.pdf.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Bob French
posted on December 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am
It is a common falicy that asbestos has been banned, certainly it is not true in the United States. There are still many uses of asbestos, including in sealants, roofing products, and friction products, such as brake shoes and clutch pads. You can go to Home Depot today and buy roofing patch tars that contain asbestos.
The current uses are certainly not as much of a health hazard as some of the previous uses, but let’s get accurate information out there.
Faye
posted on December 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Asbestos is still imported and used in the U.S. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. imported and used an estimated 1,820 tons of asbestos in 2007, an estimated 84% of which was used in roofing materials. (See http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/mcs-2008-asbes.pdf) Also, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bill H.R. 6903 The Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act to ban the future importation and use of asbestos (it is already banned in 40 countries) and provide funding for medical research into effective treatments for asbestos-related diseases. (See http://www.banasbestos.us/ ).
Largine
posted on December 9th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Thanks Bob French for sharing good thought about asbestos. i have read these companies are specially licensed to remove and dispose of asbestos in safe and appropriate manners. it’s great !
Melissa
posted on December 12th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Bob is correct and good to see others out there trying to bring light to this falicy. I work in the environmental management industry and am faced with this challenge daily. There have been a series of attempts to ban asbestos and some applications have been banned. The age of the building does not mean anything when it comes to the presence of asbestos. Asbestos in NOT like lead based paint, which was banned in 1979. However, due to free trade, not to be mistaken for fair trade, asbestos and asbestos containing products are still imported into America. It has been reported that in 2006 the U.S. consumed about 2,230 metric tons of asbestos.
The bans in place today are:
1973: sprayed on fireproofing asbestos containing material (ACM)
1975: molded pipe insulation (TSI=thermal system insulation)
1975: molded asbestos block insulation for boilers and hot water tanks
1977: Asbestos joint compound, made domestically, but can be imported still
1989: No new uses of asbestos
1989: corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial paper, specialty paper, flooring felt
Even though these bans exist there is still a lot of asbestos floating around out there (no pun intended).
Asbestos can still be found in many products today such as… Roofing shingles, roof tar, roof felt, friction products such as brake pads, vinyl floor tiles, grouts, caulks, gaskets, etc.
The next time you are at your local hardware store (or Home Depot) read some warning labels. You will be amazed.
Melissa
posted on December 12th, 2008 at 8:47 am
One more comment… To Earth 911. If you are going to take it upon yourselves to publicize environmental issues PLEASE do your homework and get the facts right. Your simple statement that asbestos is now banned is very misleading and inaccurate. See my previous statement about what is actually banned. You can also look at the EPA website for more info.
Melissa
posted on December 12th, 2008 at 9:10 am
One more comment, for Earth 911. If you are going to take it upon yourselves to publicize environmental issues PLEASE do your homework and get the facts right. You can get this information from the EPA and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). There is also something else consumers should be aware of with regard to labeling. The manufacturer is not legally required to state the work asbestos so they use the terms magnesium silicate, which is Chrysotile asbestos, iron silicate, which is amosite, asbestiform, and many other mineral names. There are 6 naturally occuring asbestos minerals. If you will be disturbing any material that is not either metal, glass, or wood then it should be assumed that it can contain asbestos. Please do some homework to find out more.
Kelli
posted on December 12th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thank you Melissa and Faye for your more in depth analysis of the specific regulations in the US. Indeed not all asbestos products are banned today but the EPA and CPSC have ensured that the most hazardous asbestos-containing materials (those containing 1% or more asbestos) are strictly regulated. However, that is not the extent of the asbestos problems that we encounter. I know that a home inspector noted that some of the pipe lining in my basement was made with asbestos. He said that it was not immediately hazardous because it appeared fairly intact. I think the point of the post was to indicate proper procedure if you encounter older asbestos compounds, which are much more likely to be hazardous, as their asbestos content was not regulated. Thanks for the great info!
Raquel Fagan
posted on March 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Thanks for all your feedback. With the help of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center, we have updated this article.
Ed Nash
posted on December 26th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Very powerful and insightful. I was watching some TV adverts in the UK about the dangers of Asbestos and i was like do construction personnel still use materials that contain asbestos? The adverts was like ’1000′s of construction workers are killed anually by asbestos…. what are you doing about it’
Ad
posted on November 16th, 2010 at 4:49 am
Good article. For years asbestos was a wonder-product with so many fantastic properties for reinforcement and insulation, making it popular in construction before it was found to be dangerous. There are different types of asbestos. The white asbestos (Crysotile) most commonly found (95% of asbestos in the US) is thought to be less harmful while the brown and blue fibres are much more difficult to break down, remain in the lungs for longer and are much more harmful.
CHARLES STRONG
posted on February 25th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
It is very sad that asbestos is still used by many industries, taking into consideration that it’s one of the major causes of mesothelioma and other kinds of lung cancer. It also makes me sad that US federal legislation has been enacted to provide compensation to victims of asbestos-related diseases or to protect people from further asbestos exposure, even thou a bill called the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act has been introduced in Congress several times. This bill supposed to create a national trust fund to compensate individuals suffering from diseases related to asbestos intake. The proposed trust fund supposed to be administered by the DOL through a claims process in which all victims with certain kind of medical symptoms and who prove diseases related to asbestos would be compensated. Funding for the trust would come from insurance companies and companies that mined, manufactured, and sold asbestos. But… As we know, nothing happened. Tragic.