Identification of Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that, in the past, was a common ingredient of construction materials because of its insulating and fire-retardant properties. Asbestos has been implicated as the cause of various severe lung diseases and is no longer used in home construction materials. According to the city of Marshfield, Wisconsin, the likelihood of homes containing asbestos is small if they were constructed after 1980. Homes built between World War I and 1980 most likely contain asbestos-laden materials. The ability to identify asbestos in your home can help protect you and your family from the hazardous substance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Location
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The first step in identifying asbestos is knowing where to find it. Common construction products used in the past that may contain asbestos include roofing materials, exterior cement siding, interior acoustic plaster, pipes wrapped in asbestos tape, vinyl tiles and insulation products. As a result of its resistance to heat, asbestos will most likely be found in areas where resistance to high temperatures and fire are required, such as around fireplaces and furnaces.
Visual Identification
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Many products that contain asbestos appear the same as those that do not. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is impossible to accurately determine the presence of asbestos in a material through sight alone unless it is labeled. Professionals possessing knowledge of product brands containing asbestos and their appearance may be able to make a fairly accurate identification, but will still rely on other methods for confirmation. Any products manufactured that contain asbestos must be labeled as such.
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Confirmation
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Microscopic examination of a suspicious material is the only reliable method for confirming the presence of asbestos. The process is difficult because many building materials may contain nonharmful fibrous substances that, under a microscope, are similar in appearance to asbestos fibers. Special microscopes and staining techniques allow trained professionals to confirm asbestos identification.
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References
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- Photo Credit fireplace image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com
