Asbestos
The literal meaning of the word “asbestos” comes from the Greek, and it means “inextinguishable.” Rightfully named, this long fibrous mineral has been widely used for thousands of years because of its fireproof qualities. In fact, the ancient Greeks used asbestos for the funeral dress of kings that were to be cremated. Both the Greeks and Romans used asbestos-fiber napkins, which they would clean by throwing into the fire.
In modern times, asbestos has been used for much the same reason. In addition, the mineral is highly resistant to heat, salt water, chemical corrosion and other biological processes. It is lightweight, extremely strong, and can be woven into cloth or mixed with building materials such as concrete. Asbestos has been used for insulation purposes in a variety of items and structures, including ceilings, walls, toasters, and hairdryers. It was widely used on ships and in military applications, and at one point its use was even mandated by the U.S. military.
Unfortunately, it is now known that exposure to asbestos carries with it enormous health risks. Pleural plaques, asbestosis, and mesothelioma cancer are some of the diseases that can be caused by asbestos, especially when the exposure is prolonged and/or repeated. Although the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder observed a “sickness of the lungs” in the slaves who worked with the fiber, and the first case of asbestosis was noted as far back as the 1920s in England, the material was used in industrial applications, and its adverse effects have been ignored or even deliberately covered up, for decades.
Exposure
Asbestos, once disturbed, releases tiny particles which are typically unseen by the human eye into the air. Once inhaled, these particles become lodged in the mesothelium, which is the outer lining protecting the heart, lungs and stomach. The fibers cannot be breathed out or otherwise removed from the body once they are lodged in the body’s soft tissues.
Exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers has caused the development of asbestos cancer in a variety of different employees and occupations over the years. Exposure has occurred through the mining of asbestos from the earth, construction or demolition of asbestos-containing building materials, and even by washing clothing that has been contaminated by asbestos. Various asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, have been diagnosed in people from all walks of life.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer whose only known cause is asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma often has a long latency period, and can remain undiagnosed for years or even decades. By the time it is diagnosed, the cancer has usually reached an advanced stage, which makes determining how to undergo mesothelioma treatment very difficult. This means that we do not yet understand the full impact of the widespread usage of asbestos in the early decades of the 20th Century, since so many people are just now being diagnosed.
Mesothelioma symptoms are generally non-specific and resemble those of common sicknesses, such as viral pneumonia, heart disease, flu and bronchitis. These symptoms include dyspnea (shortness of breath) or difficulty breathing, coughing and/or coughing up of blood, chest or abdominal pain caused by excessive fluid, weight loss, husky voice, difficulty swallowing, fever, anemia, bowel obstruction, inability to sleep, and loss of appetite. Because of the resemblance to many other diseases, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed, or not accurately diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. As with all cancers, mesothelioma can be more effectively treated when it is diagnosed early, but due to its long latency period and its symptoms’ similarities to other health issues, it rarely is.
Currently, mesothelioma is incurable. There are treatments which can be used to slow the disease’s progress or provide palliative care. Established therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation, experimental treatments, and holistic therapies can all be used individually or in conjunction with one another.
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Help answer the question about asbestos removal
Asbestos removal worker had an accident at his job does he have the right to sue the owner of the building?This happened one year ago, since then he has been receiving workers compensation check. The lawyer he has says that he can only sue the Asbestos company but the owner of the building were he was working. He wants to sue the building's owner too because when the fire started he was trying to find a way out but all the emergency doors were with a lock and the supervisor didn't have the key. We have talked to other lawyers and they said the same thing, but do you have an idea want can we do or he can only sue the company as the lawyer said. Thank you.
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Part II:
The contamination goes beyond re-claiming it, that up to the catch basin and drain canal to Pasig River was evidently tainted. As per previous laboratory test the contamination is about 850,000 PPM fluid that burst-out on the atmosphere and surroundings. This happened August 12, 2009.
May be if we considered this seriously this accident will be the first accident of PCB unsafe handling in the Phlippines and in the whole world…
(Pls. see Part III for the continuation)
Part III:
that nobody was bothered and even the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources did not know this. THIS WAS KEPT SECRET. But the effect on Filipino people and surroundings at site, as We saw it, it is the worse accident for PCB. This could be comparable to an explosion of Chemical Bomb in the Middle East during 1990 Gulf War or Dessert Storm…
BUT NOBODY CARES…
You have to take an EPA approved workers course which requires hands on training. In the southeast, you have to contact the company to see if they will send you to the course. Some will some will not. You end up paying for it out of your first checks. You could contact asbestos abatement companies to see who they use or look at the reference.
Although the potential is there it is safe to handle and dispose of asbestose. You should be sure that the material is dampned and kept that way during removal. Wear clothing thaqt you can dispose of( when you wash them you will release fibers that could contaminate other clothing). A respirator is not expensive and should have the proper filters. Clear the room lay down a complete layer of plastic and overlay this with a layer that runs up thwe walls and tape plastic to the walls just below the celing. Use duct tape for all joints and to hold it in place. Use a hudson sprayer with water and some detergent to dampen the surface juust enough to loosen the acoustical plaster, and scrape it off with a tapeing knife. It may take a couple of spray downs give it time to work. The ceiling should not become driping with water, but the removed material should come right off to the paper. imediatly upon completion ofthis step spray down the plastic with enough to be sure the material on the floor and walls is still wet. Remove the plasic liner and roll it up into a ball in the middle of the room. Then use the floor peice as the final containment. if you roll fron the edges as you go and eliminate air it will fit easily into the floor peice put the clothes in the bag also. Take a fast shower to get any clingons off yourselfe. get back to the room and sponge wash the ceiling one last tome to remove any residue, LOTS OF WATER CHANGES. be careful not to get the drywall too wet as you go through this.
Impossible to say without an inspection. It not only depends on the amount of asbestos but also the type eg wall cladding or pipe lagging or ceiling insulation or roofing, but also on how accessible the asbestos is and what other work needs to be done to get it out . A reliable qualified asbestos remover should give a free quote, though you don't say where you live but it should also be the case where you are .
It could be an allergic reaction. I had the same reaction to the cheap suits we had. It went away when I switched to the better Tyvek suits.
Part I:
This Asbestos incident is only just a small concern from the dismantling of MTPP. But the worse scenario that this group had tookpart was they let the transformer containing PCB exploded as accident at the site, Approx. 1,400 liters of PCB transformer oil accidentally explode to the environment when it was hit by falling metal from above. They did not cautiously handled this matter.
(Pls. see Part II for the continuation)
Get several estimates. Companies have to be certified in order to do this type of work. There is a lot of prep involved other than just the actual removal. They have to set up a containment area as well as a shower area and the material has to be packaged in a particular way in order to be able to dispose of it. There is a cost involved in the actual disposal as well. When you take all of that in to consideration, it's possible that $800 is reasonable. The only way to know is shop around.
The easiest way to find out about asbestos and its effects is to read information provided by lawyers' offices that's specialized in the field (also called mesothelomia)
People have been awarded millions just for exposure to asbestos as mesothelomia may develop in the most unsuspected environment.
Unfortunately, the roofing industry is granted exemption from the asbestos abatement conditions. However, I would make sure to check your property for debris and ask them to remove it. They should remove any debris that comes onto your property, but don't make a stink about removing dust. I'd also check to make sure that they have a work permit (if one's required). I had a situation where my next door neighbor had a second story built and the contractor he hired tore off the old roof and tossed the debris onto my yard. OH,, I was SOOO upset. What kind of crap-and-a-half contractor does that to the client's neighbor??? I guess a *bad* one.
As for your kids, keep them inside until the work is all done. Just to keep the mess limited, the crew should have tarps and drop-cloths to collect the debris. There would be nails and other sharp debris within those shingles. Why wouldn't they have a tarp? Also, since a lot of debris is created in a roofing tear-down, they ought to have a dumpster VERY closeby.
There's much more nastier things in roofing shingles than asbestos. Those nastier things would effect you pretty quickly if you inhaled/ingested enough.
The asbestos removal company takes full responsibility in this case. the school hired the removal company. the removal company either designed the project or used a consultants design. they also have a full state/osha guideline for proper procedures for asbestos removal and general safety. they have full ownership of the project and the safety on the job site. The asbestos removal company is responsibile for their workers safety.
the cost is minimal to remove asbestos totaling less than 300 sf over that, it can get quite expensive, as the disposal is regulated. you can also consider encapsulating it. you didnt mention where the asbestos is- is it wrapped around heat pipes, is the home sided with asbestos, is there asbestos flooring?
Before buying a home with known asbestos in friable condition (frayed looking and not in good condition) consider educating yourself further by a professional. depending on where you live, you will have to disclose known asbestos when you sell, so try now and negotiate removal paid for by the sellers. check out http://www.epa.gov for additional info