Toxic and Hazardous Substances

ASBESTOS – What is it?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been commonly used for insulating and as a fire-retardant and
was manufactured into more than 3000 different products. Though asbestos Containing Material or
ACM was largely banned in building materials by the late 1980’s today in older structure it can
still be commonly found in:

•  Heating systems, Pipe insulation, Spray on ceiling treatments, Vinyl Floor backing, Cement shake siding to name a few.

Health Hazards
What makes Asbestos so difficult to handle is it is virtually indestructible.
It is resistance to chemicals,heat nor does it evaporate in air or dissolve in water and it does not break down over time.When Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM) is damaged or disturbed, microscopic fibers becomeairborne and can cause significant health problems if inhaled into the lungs, which can lead tocancer, scarring, and chronic inflammation, especially when combinedwith smoking.This type of ACM is known as ‘Friable Asbestos’ which means when ACM can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the pressure of an ordinary human hand. This differs from ‘Non- Friable’ which means any ACM that cannot be pulverized by hand pressure to become airborne (ie that which might be embedded in mastic, plaster or gypsum ).

Abatement
Abatement will only be conducted by licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractors following specialized work practices and controls.