Normally in this blog, we talk about asbestos on smaller scale, focusing on individual homes, businesses, and even schools. However, due to a recent accident in New York, we’re going to look at larger systems than attic insulation or popcorn ceilings. Today we’re looking at asbestos in the city infrastructure, areas where asbestos-containing materials can extend for city blocks, if not miles. Let’s go over the recent incident in New York City and the important takeaway for those responsible for city infrastructure. [Read more…] about Dealing with Asbestos in City Infrastructure
Archives for August 2018
Is There Testing for Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos has a lasting legacy in the United States, from health conditions that plague contractors, miners, and factory workers, to asbestos hazards in our homes, offices, and schools. Fear of asbestos comes from the fear of the health conditions it poses, and the difficulty of detecting the hazard. When it comes to diagnosing your risk of asbestos exposure, you’ve got two major sources: watching out for “sentinel diseases” that commonly are linked to asbestos or performing an inspection of suspect buildings for asbestos. [Read more…] about Is There Testing for Asbestos Exposure?
The Rise and Fall of Banning Asbestos: Repeal of the ABPR
It’s a common misconception that in the United States, asbestos use is banned. While there is a patchwork quilt of legislation in place in federal and state levels, there are no single rules or acts that have been issued by Congress or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that completely bans asbestos and Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM). The closest we had was the rule issued by the EPA in July of 1989 called the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out-Rule (ABPR), which was met with a quick demise less than two years later. In this article, we’ll take a look at why. [Read more…] about The Rise and Fall of Banning Asbestos: Repeal of the ABPR
Identifying Asbestos Textiles and Asbestos Fabrics
If you’ve read our blogs on asbestos before, you’ve probably seen us refer to it by its moniker: the miracle mineral. While this phrase was mostly good marketing for a bad product, asbestos did have some amazing qualities. In our blog, Is Asbestos Man-Made or Naturally Occurring?, we went over the particular nature of asbestos, namely its long silica fibers. In the heyday of asbestos, these fibers were spun just like cotton to produce asbestos thread or used to strengthen cotton or other textiles. This legacy has produced hazardous building materials, textiles, and clothing that need to be identified and disposed of. [Read more…] about Identifying Asbestos Textiles and Asbestos Fabrics
