Asbestos Testing
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Its fiber strength and resistance to heat made it ideal for use in building materials, such as attic and wall insulation, vinyl floor tiles, roofing and siding shingles, hot water or steam pipes, automobile clutches and brakes, and many other construction and manufactured products. Under the 1989 rule Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions (54 FR 29460, July 12, 1989) (FRL-3476-2) some uses of asbestos are banned, but most uses are not.
Why should I be concerned about asbestos in my home?
Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling. Exposure increases your risk of developing lung disease. The major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are: lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.
For more information on these and other health effects of asbestos exposure see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Cancer Institute
What to do about asbestos in your home
You cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it. It is always best to treat suspect materials as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. However, if you are planning to remodel your home or your home has damaged building materials, you should have a trained and certified asbestos professional perform an inspection. If materials test positive for asbestos you should have removal and repairs done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos.
For more information about asbestos visit https://www.epa.gov/asbestos