How To Remove And Dispose Of Asbestos From Your Home
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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in home building and construction. It has since been banned due to its health risks and is considered one of the world’s most dangerous substances. Asbestos fibers can enter your airways and lungs through breathing, eating or drinking. When this happens, the fibers can cause inflammation or scarring in your lungs which puts you at risk for lung cancer, mesothelioma (rare cancer) or other serious illnesses related to asbestos exposure.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries in building materials and shipyards. Asbestos fibers are released into the air when asbestos is disturbed, most often during construction or renovation projects. Breathing in asbestos can increase your risk of developing serious illnesses like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, stomach, or heart).
Asbestos-containing materials include:
- insulation on water pipes and boilers;
- building materials such as flooring tiles, fireproof boards, and cement sheets;
- the ductwork in buildings built before 1999;
Common uses of asbestos
Asbestos was widely used in a variety of products, including insulation, building materials, and fireproofing. Asbestos was often used in construction materials such as drywall, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles. It was also found in many household items such as pot holders and oven mitts.
- Attic Renovation
- Brake Dust in Home Garage
- Drilling into Asbestos in Drywall
- Removing Vinyl Floor Tiles
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Cutting Insulation on Pipes
Is there any safe level of asbestos exposure?
No, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure and that any exposure to asbestos should be avoided. Asbestos fibers can cause cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis if they are inhaled or ingested.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) can be found in many homes built before 1980. ACM may be present in your home’s walls, floors or ceilings; it could also be used for insulation around pipes and in ducts leading to heating and cooling units. Asbestos was widely used because it is fire resistant and inexpensive to use; however these same properties make this mineral material dangerous when released into the air during tasks such as remodeling projects or demolition work on older buildings containing ACM products that were manufactured before 1980.

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