Asbestos
Asbestos is a general name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals found throughout the world. The asbestos mineral
is composed of bundles of fibers that are very durable, heat resistant and noise absorbing. Asbestos products have proven to
be very resilient and have been used in building products since the late 1800’s. In 1971, after years of studying the health
effects of workers who made or installed asbestos products, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
declared asbestos unsafe and listed it as a hazardous air pollutant.
Asbestos products have proven to be superior over other materials as long as it remained intact. However, if asbestos
becomes air-borne and an individual inhales it, severe health problems can result. Since the 1970’s, there have been strict
US EPA rules regulating the removal and disposal of asbestos materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has regulations in effect to protect employees working with or around asbestos. In 1995, OSHA issued revised
regulations for asbestos with stricter requirements.
Read our Asbestos Brochure to learn more about abestos in your home and at work.
|