Q: How is asbestos harmful?

A: Asbestos must enter the body to be harmful, and inhalation is the most common method of entry. When dry, some asbestos containing materials can be crumbled by hand into a powdery substance. The material in this form releases small fibers that can float through the air, invisible, and easily inhaled. You cannot see these fibers, as they are in fact so small that they pass through the filters of most vacuum cleaners, and are propelled back into the air. Once the asbestos fibers are inhaled, they easily become lodged in the respiratory airways for an extended period of time. The tiny asbestos fibers lodged inside the body can cause various health problems.  

Q: Are all products containing asbestos a health risk?

A: NO. The risk exists only when asbestos fibers become airborne, with the increased potential of being inhaled. Soft, easily crushable material containing asbestos has the greatest potential for fiber release, and therefore has the highest potential to cause health problems. 

Q: Where is asbestos used?

A: Use of asbestos containing materials has greatly diminished since the early 1980's. Prior to this, asbestos was used in a wide variety of products, including common household and building materials, such as appliances, floor tiles, ceilings, wall and pipe coverings, window putty, and roofing and siding shingles.  

Q: How can I identify asbestos?

A: The only way to determine if a material contains asbestos is through testing, and laboratory analysis. People who frequently work around asbestos (such as plumbers, roofers and flooring contractors, building contractors, or heating and air conditioning contractors) often are able to make a reasonable judgment about whether or not a material contains asbestos based on a visual inspection.  

Q: How can I obtain a laboratory analysis?

A: There are professionals like Alpine Air Corp. who conduct asbestos surveys, sampling and consulting services that can provide you with a detailed laboratory analysis.

Q: What should I do if I find asbestos in my home?

A: Do not disturb the material containing asbestos if it is in good condition. Any damaged surfaces of such materials may be covered with paint or patching material to provide added protection against the release of asbestos fibers. If the asbestos-containing material in your home is damaged or you suspect the release of fibers, hiring professional help to remove it is highly recommended. A licensed asbestos contractor, with the expertise and the resources to remove asbestos safely should be used. Incorrect removal methods, or inadequate containment measures of asbestos-containing materials often causes asbestos fibers to become inadvertently airborne and hazardous to human health.  

Q: Do all people exposed to asbestos develop asbestos-related diseases?

A: NO. People that have been exposed to asbestos at lower levels do not normally develop health problems. Studies of health among those with greater exposure, like asbestos workers however, show that the chances of developing serious illnesses increase with prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers.   Some major health problems associated with asbestos exposure are lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous lung disease), and mesothelioma (a cancer of the abdominal lining and chest).  Medical studies have also stated that exposure to asbestos can be the cause of cancers of internal organs including the esophagus, larynx, mouth, stomach, colon and kidney.   Cigarette smoking and exposure to asbestos combined, increase the risk of lung cancer more than the risk of cancer due to smoking, or singularly working with asbestos.