Acoustic Asbestos Ceiling Removal, Is It Necessary?

2005-11-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

Homeowners with acoustic asbestos ceiling question about the effects of asbestos contained within its materials that if inhaled would cause serious health hazards.

If material contains more than 1% of asbestos, EPA defines as it's containing. However, asbestos can only be positively identified by microscope. Many of the homes built prior to 1980s observe acoustic asbestos ceilings, and the removal of acoustic asbestos ceiling has become commonly done for environmental safety precautions.

Many homes contain acoustic asbestos ceiling in their bedrooms, living rooms, with spray-applied textures. However, asbestos materials are also in pipe insulation, shingles, floor tile, mastics, roofing, structural steel fireproofing, etc.

University of Arizona Dept. of Risk Management and Safety explains the hazards of asbestos in the following manner.

"Asbestos is a respiratory hazard and espiratory/gastrointestinal carcinogen. Exposure to asbestos occurs when reparable fibers are released into the air and then inhaled. Since exposure occurs when asbestos is inhaled, the best way to prevent exposure is to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.

Asbestos containing materials are therefore divided into two categories: friable and non-friable. Friable means that a material is able to be reduced to powder by hand pressure. Asbestos containing materials that are friable, by their nature, have a much greater tendency to release fibers. They require specific control measures to prevent releasing fibers into the air. Conversely, non-friable asbestos containing materials, by their nature, do not want to give up their fibers into the air. This class of materials must be mechanically impacted (power tools such as sanders, drills, chippers, saws, etc.) to release fibers. Asbestos containing textured ceiling materials is a friable material."

Is Asbestos Ceiling Removal Hazardous?

Although breathing of asbestos fibers post threats to human health, unless air contamination occurs to cause releasing of asbestos airborne and becomes friable, it would not affect environment. Moreover, several layers of paint applied to the ceiling over the years serves to “seal” acoustic asbestos ceiling and withhold materials from dangerously contacting occupants.

Homeowners should not unnecessarily impact the ceiling by placing fixtures onto the ceiling or by moving objects surrounding the environment. When done improperly, asbestos becomes into airborne and increases the risk of releasing its fibers to be inhaled. Because asbestos fibers are small and light, they can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Therefore, unprofessional management of acoustic asbestos ceiling removal should not be preceded and a licensed asbestos abatement professional must conduct removal.

To find out more, please visit http://acoustic-asbestos-ceiling-removal.com/

Takuya Hikichi, President of Investopedia, Inc. Las Vegas based marketing firm specializes in small business marketing, e-commerce and search engine optimization. Hikichi also hosts forums and conferences with entrepreneurs in areas of investment, Nevada strategies, e-commerce.

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Asbestos Litigation

2005-11-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

When Should I Consult an Asbestos Attorney?

If asbestos diseases have adversely affected you or a family member then you should consult an asbestos attorney regarding litigation. Asbestos is a natural forming mineral that, in the second half of the twentieth century, was widely used as a building material. It was cheap and effective with plentiful resources. Despite the discovery that the inhalation of asbestos fibers leads to serious illnesses, companies covered up this information in order to continue its use. Asbestos laws have only recently been introduced to help control the use of this deadly substance.

Who is Affected by Asbestos Diseases?

It was estimated that approximately 10 million workers had been exposed to asbestos by the year 1978 and that by 1970 25 million tons of asbestos had been used in building work across the USA. Exposure to asbestos usually occurs when materials that contain asbestos are cut, sawn or broken; this results in the fibres being released into the atmosphere. Anyone involved in these processes was immediately at risk.

Asbestos fibres are so small they can only be seen under a microscope. They are colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is more than possible that anyone who has come into contact with the deadly asbestos fibers wouldn’t even know.
Early Danger Signs.

In the 1920s the asbestos industry was aware of the damaging effects of asbestos, and yet they did nothing to protect workers or their families. By this time, insurance companies had even started to place higher premiums on workers in the asbestos industry but companies decided to put profit above the health of their workers.

As time moved on, more and more people within the asbestos industry learned of the dangers involved but it was some time before anything was done about it. It is only fairly recently that proper health and safety measures have been implemented to stop exposure to asbestos. Any asbestos attorney or asbestos law firm can tell you whether you were unduly put at risk and whether you have the right to proceed with an asbestos lawsuit.

Diseases Associated with Asbestos.

Many fatal and non-fatal diseases are associated with the exposure to asbestos. Many prove fatal to the sufferer. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Lung cancer can also be contracted, as well as asbestosis. When the lungs inhale asbestos, some of the fibers become caught. In turn these fibers cause scar tissue and decrease the lungs’ capability to breathe sufficient oxygen.

If you suffer from any of these illnesses, and you haven’t already done so, contact an asbestos attorney immediately; you may be entitled to pursue asbestos litigation.

Loni Taylor is a freelance author from Dayton, Ohio. For examples of other articles, see http://www.a1-asbestos-attorney.net
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