Asbestos Shingles: The Deadly Material In Your Home
by Kirsten Hawkins
Asbestos
shingles are the roofing material made from asbestos, a mineral
fiber. Asbestos was used commonly in a variety of building
construction materials because of its insulation and
fire-retardant properties. Even today, asbestos is found in
older homes in materials such as asbestos roofing shingles,
pipes, furnace insulation materials, millboard, textured
paints, other coating materials, and floor tiles. Asbestos
became popular as an additive to many building materials
because of its inherent properties such as softness, pliability
and resistance to heat and chemical corrosion. Asbestos that is
bonded into finished products such as walls and tile poses
minimal or no risk to health as long as it is not damaged or
disturbed.
However, sawing or drilling of
asbestos materials could release asbestos fibers in the air and
pose severe health risks for the occupants of the
premises.
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Asbestos Ceiling Tiles -
Potential Hazards And
Precautions
Kirsten Hawkins
Asbestos was widely used as
a component of 'popcorn'
ceiling in homes or in the form
of asbestos ceiling tiles. It
was also used as decorative
sprays on the walls or for
soundproofing purposes.
However, off late there has
been a lot of concern regarding
the use of asbestos ceiling
tiles because of harmful
affects of asbestos particles
on human health.
Hazards of Asbestos ceiling
tiles
Asbestos contains deadly
silicate fibers that can be
airborne on applying physical
force on asbestos ceiling
tiles. The fibers when inhaled
are retained by the lungs and
cause potent lung disorders,
such as mesothelioma or
asbestosis. Even if ceilings
are asbestos-free, certain
insulation materials like
Zonolite used in attic floors,
can release toxic levels of
asbestos while fixing a ceiling
fan or a light. Asbestos
ceiling tiles may contain
formaldehyde and such volatile
organic compounds as
components. Asbestos found in
ceiling tiles, if in good
condition, causes no risk but
loose, damp or crumbly asbestos
is dangerous. Drilling and
scraping of such material is a
health hazard. In those cases,
the building owners should
remove the asbestos ceiling
tiles or take necessary steps
to prevent asbestos exposure
due to asbestos contaminated
ceiling tiles.
Safe Handling of Asbestos
ceiling tiles
The best way is to avoid the
use of asbestos ceiling tiles.
However, if you are using
asbestos ceiling tiles, you
must take necessary precautions
to avoid asbestos exposure.
Some of the steps are:
§ Select low-emitting ceiling
tiles certified by a reputed
organization like Greenguard
Environmental Institute.
§ Use porous ceiling tiles that
trap odors and chemicals
emitted from building
activities.
§ Install ceiling tiles in a
building only after painting,
flooring or other such work is
over. This prevents the ceiling
tiles from absorbing and
retaining the chemicals and
organic solvents.
§ Recycle old ceiling tiles
under new programs.
§ Hire professionals to
reconstruct asbestos ceiling
tiles as they adhere to safety
norms and rules. Avoid sanding
and dry-buffing asbestos
floors.
§ Follow wet stripping or use
low abrasion pads below 300 rpm
to avoid exposure.
§ Report any broken ceiling
tiles to Environmental Health
& Safety Department.
File an Employee Exposure
Report within 24 hours or as
soon as possible with the
Environmental Health &
Safety Department in case of
accidental exposure to
asbestos.
Remember! A minor exposure to
asbestos fibers can cause lung
disorders, asbestosis or
mesothelioma. Therefore, it is
better to safe than sorry.
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos
and mesothelioma specialist
from Nashville, TN. Visit
http://www.asbestosblog.org/
for information on asbestos
reform, mesothelioma lawsuit
news, and more.
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Health Effects Of Asbestos Shingles:
Exposure to damaged asbestos shingles may cause asbestos
exposure that in turn could make the residents vulnerable to
serious asbestos based diseases such as asbestosis, lung
cancers and mesothelioma cancers. Smokers are at a higher risk
of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer. The most dangerous
aspect about asbestos fibers is that they are too small to be
visible. Once inhaled, they get clogged in the lungs to cause
severe damage to the person. Moreover, the symptoms of asbestos
exposure and diseases do not show up until many years after the
exposure.
Steps To Reduce Asbestos Exposure From Asbestos Shingles:
No protection from asbestos shingles is required if they are
intact and you can leave them alone. However, if the shingles
are damaged and pose the risk of releasing asbestos fibers, the
best option will be to repair or remove. This process of repair
or removal of asbestos materials is known as asbestos
abatement. Encapsulation and enclosure are different methods of
asbestos abatement. Sealing (encapsulation) involves treating
the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos
fibers together or coats the material. Covering (enclosure)
involves placing something over or around the material that
contains asbestos to prevent release of fibers.
Removal of asbestos shingles should begin with the upper row of
shingles. A wide blade instrument should be used to reduce the
risk of damage to the shingles. To avoid exposure, place the
shingles in a box or bucket and lower to the ground. Asbestos
shingles should be packaged in a strong box lined with a
plastic trash bag. Finally, removed asbestos shingles and
associated waste materials should be taken into the appropriate
roll-off dumpster.
About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a
asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN.
Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for
information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news,
and more.
Source: www.isnare.com
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