| Although now we know that asbestos is a | | | | that cannot release asbestos is called non-friable. |
| carcinogen, it was in widespread use before this | | | | When asbestos is friable, specialized companies |
| finding. This means that numerous buildings, | | | | must remove it using safety gear to protect |
| including offices, homes, and schools, all utilized this | | | | them from inhaling or ingesting the fibers. There |
| material before it was banned in the late 1980s. | | | | are several components of safety gear to make |
| To remove asbestos from buildings or other | | | | sure a person is fully protected, including: |
| items, people must wear protective gear. | | | | Respirators - these are masks that cover half of |
| First, it is important to understand the wide | | | | the face in order to keep a person from |
| impact of asbestos. It was popular for the | | | | breathing in asbestos fibers. |
| construction, automotive, and even shipping | | | | Coveralls - coveralls that include feet should be |
| industries as an insulator. Asbestos belongs to the | | | | worn during contact with asbestos, then thrown |
| silicate family, which means that it resists heat, | | | | away so that stray fibers do not get caught in |
| flame, chemicals, electricity, and biodegradation. On | | | | the clothing to later spread to someone else. |
| its own, asbestos is a fibrous material that is | | | | Rubber gloves - strong, disposable gloves keep |
| flexible and has high tensile strength. Thus, it is | | | | asbestos fibers from becoming lodged in your skin |
| easily added to other substances to add a bit of | | | | and causing asbestos warts. Like coveralls, these |
| extra insulating power. | | | | should be safely thrown away after one use. |
| At one point, this material could be found in | | | | Rubber boots - pull-on boots that go over the |
| everything from vinyl flooring to roof tiles, wall | | | | booties of your coverall protect your feet and |
| insulation to water pipes. Additionally, it is still a | | | | lower legs. |
| component in brake pads, clutch disks, and brake | | | | Eye gear - wearing ventilated goggles keeps the |
| shoes as well as gaskets. Although it is now | | | | sensitive tissue of your eyes from suffering from |
| banned, asbestos can also be found in older | | | | asbestos fibers. |
| buildings that have not been remodeled or | | | | Sadly, protective gear isn't always enough. |
| renovated to rid them of this material. | | | | Asbestos exposure causes tragic diseases such |
| Asbestos does not become dangerous until it | | | | as lung cancer and mesothelioma. If you or |
| begins to release microscopic fibers into the air. | | | | someone you know has suffered from |
| From here, you can inhale or ingest the fibers, | | | | asbestos-related health issues, you should speak |
| which may then become lodged in your body's | | | | to a lawyer about your options. |
| tissue where it can spur the formation of | | | | For more information, call an asbestos attorney |
| cancerous tumors. Items containing asbestos that | | | | from Williams Kherkher today. |
| is able to flake off is called friable, while material | | | | |