Asbestos is a chemical which was in prominent use in buildings due to its good fire retarding properties. It has been found to have cancer causing chemicals in the recent years. The asbestos in its manufactured forms does not pose a health issue as the final product is well insulated. But a damaged product releases asbestos fiber into the air and this fiber is invisible to the human eye. Only by properly inspecting the product the damage can be found. The asbestos fiber once released into the air is almost impossible to get rid of. They are not affected by the heat and water in the atmosphere and if the asbestos fiber is inhaled it settles down inside the lungs and prolonged exposure may result in lung cancer, asbestosis and many chronic diseases. Treatments for these diseases range from simple medication to chemotherapy. Proper handling of asbestos related products and awareness on the harmful effects of improper asbestos disposal are necessary. Proper methods have to be followed while removing asbestos filled products and there are specialized agencies at work to take care of the disposal issue. The major disadvantage is you cannot see the asbestos fiber with the naked eye and so it is best if assistance from professionals is used to avoid placing you and others around you at risk of exposure to this harmful chemical.
To properly perform the asbestos disposal it is a must that persons disposing it wear proper clothing, use air purifying equipment, disposable coveralls are used and respirators which filter out the asbestos fibers are a must to avoid accidental inhalation of these asbestos fibers. The companies that remove asbestos can be found out under the name asbestos abatement or asbestos consulting and testing. Even while removing the damaged asbestos product you may unknowingly release more asbestos fiber into the air. As once the fibers are released there is little one can do to prevent inhalation and possible diseases arising from them it is best to contact these professional firms. The precautionary steps to be followed before removing the asbestos filled material and taking it to centers that specialize in disposing asbestos are as follows:
- First wet the asbestos containing material in water.
- Heavy duty trash bags of 4.5 mils thick have to be used and it is required that at least four bags be placed on over the other forming an outer covering that is 6 mils thick. It is a must that the trash bags are secured with a duct tape to avoid leaking of the asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment.
- The bags must weigh less than thirty pound and splitting up of asbestos into two or more bags is necessary if the asbestos weighs more.
- All the bags must be clearly marked saying asbestos is inside the trash bags.
- Normally there is no fee for residential asbestos waste and they are charged only if the weight is above 125 pounds. Small businesses are charged a minimal fee depending on the professional company involved in disposing of the asbestos.
It is very important that one follows proper procedures for asbestos disposal as even a small quantity leaked into the air can lead to major health issues. Usually the asbestos is found the sidings of walls or in a home furnace as asbestos is known for its good fire retarding properties. While removing the asbestos professionals use a HEPA filter after securing the area tightly with plastic material so that the asbestos fibers are not leaked into the air during removal of the damaged parts. The filter helps in creating a negative pressure situation, so that the fibers rest inside the plastic chamber itself. Then the material is soaked in a soap solution which helps in wetting and thus keeping the fibers in one place. This makes sure no asbestos fiber is able to fly and escape into the air. The trash bags are secured properly and then taken to landfills where they are disposed off carefully. The asbestos is buried inside the land fill to make sure none escapes into the air to cause harmful side effects.
As asbestos was commonly used before the 1980’s after which their use was limited as people came to know the ill hazards of using this chemical. The worst part is you cannot tell if the tile you are using or the pipes in your house contain asbestos in them just by looking at them. They are invisible to the human eye and these asbestos fibers can be found only under laboratory examinations. So damaged pipelines have to be tested and replaced immediately in case they are found to have asbestos. As there is bound to be asbestos fibers released already it is better if professional help is sought during asbestos disposal, due to the inherent non destructible qualities of the asbestos fiber. There are two types of asbestos used in general, friable and non friable forms. The friable asbestos can be crumpled by mere hand pressure and it is very dangerous as the chances of asbestos fibers being released into the air are very high here. Non friable asbestos cannot be crumpled by mere hand pressure but in case it is heavily damaged then it must also be treated as carefully as one would treat a friable asbestos product.
Before undertaking demolition of old buildings proper care must be taken to ensure all asbestos materials like floor tiles, roofing, asphalt tiles, siding and pipelining are all inspected for any asbestos content in them and removed properly before demolition is started on the structure. As noting can be done once the asbestos fibers are released; greater precaution is advised and the health department of the states have various rules which must be strictly adhered to while disposing of asbestos. Asbestos abatement includes inspection, testing and removal according to the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Before taking materials and making an asbestos disposal in the landfills make sure the landfill has the facility to handle the asbestos waste beforehand.