Source: Asbestos Network Millions of Americans across the U.S. have suffered exposure to the asbestos fibers that cause the fatal conditions mesothelioma, lung cancer, other cancers, and asbestosis. In addition, workers who came home from the shipyards, construction sites, and factories with the dust on their clothes, skin, and hair also exposed their spouses…
Source: Anthony King, Chemistry World What is asbestos? Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. These are useful because of their excellent tensile strength, poor heat conduction and resistance to chemical attack. Asbestos materials have been used for insulation in buildings and in various products such as roofing materials, water supply lines and…
Before asbestos mining came to the United States, it was already commonplace in Canada. Quebec was a large mining area, though mines operated in cities throughout Canada. At one point, Canada had several dozen mines in operation and was the largest exporter of asbestos to the U.S. and many other countries. Canada’s last asbestos mine…
Asbestos has been used in building products for centuries. The applications for asbestos are wide-ranging. Due to the fire-resistant and insulating qualities that asbestos provides, it has been used in thousands of different building products- including pipe insulation, floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics, and much more. It wasn’t until 1973 that the Clean Air Act…
Many homes built before 1980 contain asbestos in old floor tiles & their mastic (glue), ceiling tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, insulation (around boilers, ducts, pipes, sheeting, fireplaces), pipe cement, and joint compound used on seams between pieces of sheetrock. Some newer houses may also contain it. Asbestos becomes a hazard to us when…
The term ‘asbestos’ actually refers to six mineral types: Chrysotile (White Asbestos) Most commonly used type of asbestos Can be found in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors of properties Was also used in automobile brake linings, pipe insulation, gaskets and boiler seals Although the most widespread of all the minerals, some studies show it takes…
There are many products that still contain asbestos used every day across the nation. The EPA ban from the 1970’s did not cover all products, and still allows some products to contain as much as 1% asbestos. Since asbestos is a known cause of a deadly lung cancer called mesothelioma, it’s important to be aware…