Asbestos in old Ansonia, Connecticut single family home

This is the AA-MSA Inspection blog (www.aa-msa.com). AA-MSA Inspectors write about their actual building inspection and environmental testing experiences.

This blog post is about Asbestos. Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. The three most common types of asbestos are: a) chrysotile, b) amosite and c) crocidolite.

Asbestos can only be identified under a microscope. Chrysotile asbestos makes up approximately 90%-95% of all asbestos contained in buildings in the United States.

Why is asbestos a hazard? Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundle s of fibers that may become airborne when distributed. These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs, where they may cause significant health problems. Researchers still have not determined a "safe level" of exposure but we know the greater and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestos related disease. Some of these health problems include:
a) Asbestosis - a lung disease first found in naval shipyard workers. As asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become trapped in the lung tissue. The body tries to dissolve the fibers by producing an acid. This acid, due to the chemical resistance of the fiber, does little to damage the fiber, but may scar the surrounding tissue. Eventually, this scarring may become so severe that the lungs cannot function. The latency period ( meaning the time it takes for the disease to become developed) is often 25-40 years.

b) Mesothelioma - a cancer of the pleura ( the outer lining of the lung and chest cavity) and/ or the peritoneum ( the lining of the abdominal wall). This form of cancer is peculiar because the only known cause is from asbestos exposure. The latency period for Mesothelioma is often 15-30 years.

c) Lung Cancer- caused by asbestos. The effects of lung cancer are often greatly increased by cigarette smoking ( by about 50%). Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by asbestos. The latency period for cancer is often 15-30 years.

Despite the common misconception, asbestos does not cause headaches, sore muscles or other immediate symptoms. The effects often go unnoticed for 15-40 years.

When is asbestos a hazard? Asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. In fact, if asbestos can be maintained in good condition, it is recommended that it be left alone and periodic surveillance performed to monitor its condition. It is only when asbestos containing materials (ACM) are disturbed or the materials become damaged that it becomes a hazard. When the materials become damaged, the fibers separate and may then become airborne. In the asbestos industry, the term ‘friable’ is used to describe asbestos that can be reduced to dust by hand pressure. ‘Non-friable’ means asbestos that is too hard to be reduce to dust by hand. Non-friable materials, such as transite siding and floor tiles are not regulated provided it does not become friable. Machine grinding, sanding and dry-buffing are ways of causing non- friable materials to become friable.

AA-MSA's inspectors are licensed professionals who have developed a superior understanding of construction and asbestos hazard identification.

Want to know if you have asbestos in your home? Call AA-MSA to conduct an asbestos inspection. 1-800-888-8107 ext 301 or after hours ext 303. Or, email joe@aa-msa.com.