Asbestos abatement: no shortage of work for consultants.

• Author: Kenshalo, Rachel
• Position: ENVIRONMENT

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

These days, the mere mention of asbestos usually elicits fears about exposure-related diseases, including cancer. But up until about 40 years ago, it was a highly sought-after commodity in the construction industry. Hailed for its strength and resistance to fire and corrosion, it was found in all sorts of building materials, such as insulation, roof shingles, piping and textured paint. In the mid-1970s, the dangers of asbestos exposure became widely publicized and the U.S. government began heavily regulating it.

"If something is made of steel, glass or wood you can be assured it doesn't contain asbestos," says Bob French, EE. with EHS-Alaska Inc. "Otherwise, it might, and there is no way to tell without having the material tested by a certified laboratory."

French and EHS-Alaska specialize in asbestos consulting. They provide asbestos and hazardous materials surveys (which are often required for commercial building renovations), abatement and remediation designs and environmental consulting.

"There is lots of misinformation out there," French said. He cautions that asbestos is much more prevalent than most people think, and that contrary to popular belief, the use of asbestos has not been banned, and asbestos-containing materials can still be legally purchased. Although its presence is fairly common - it can be found in almost every single building out there, according to French--consumers and homeowners still need to be mindful of its potential dangers.

"Most buildings built before about 2000 have some asbestos present. For buildings built after 1980, the asbestos is mostly in materials that are less hazardous, as they are unlikely to become airborne," French said. "Renovations may require asbestos abatement though, to prevent asbestos particles from being released into the air."

HEALTH CONCERNS

Because health concerns such as lung cancer and mesothelioma only occur when one is exposed to airborne asbestos, if an asbestos-containing material is in good condition, it is often best to leave it alone, some say. The EPA advises that generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers into the air, and if homeowners suspect asbestos is present in their home, they should check the material for wear, but otherwise avoid it. It is especially important to keep from rubbing or handling the material, and preventing it from exposure to vibration or air flow.

Unless homeowners are completely sure their home is...