Removing Asbestos Is Worth The Cost

Removing asbestos from public buildings has cost an estimated $50 billion in the US

. Some people believe that the costs are not worthwhile, that the risks of disease are very low.

A report in USA Today quotes "incontrovertible scientific evidence" that the risk is barely measurable. Yet the Environmental Working Group has said that 10,000 people a year die from asbestos-caused diseases in the US alone. Saving lives is a worthwhile investment.

In public buildings and private homes, the greatest risks are to those people who do the maintenance. In attics, basements and crawl spaces, there could be a great deal of contamination. Simply rubbing a hand along an asbestos-coated pipe could release the toxins into the air.

Drilling into a wall filled with asbestos-containing insulation releases the cancer-causing fibers into the air. If there are people in the building when that kind of work goes on, they could easily inhale the microscopic fibers and develop life-threatening tumors.

Obviously the risk of leaving the materials in the building is great for anyone in the building. No one can rationally say that the cost of removing the substance is not worth it.

People who have older homes often wonder how to remove asbestos themselves. First of all, it is dangerous for untrained individuals to handle the materials. If they are not handled correctly and disposed of properly, the fibers will become airborne.

There are ways to cover pipes, walls and ductwork to allow them to remain in place while still protecting residents from the fibers. However the coverings should be applied carefully by a professional. If handled incorrectly, the coverings can rub off the hazardous microscopic fibers.

A homeowner might simply want to understand the process so that they can be sure a professional team is doing the job correctly. A company that knows how to remove asbestos will first make sure that all people and pets are outside of the area. Then the area will be sealed off using plastic sheets and duct tape.

Sometimes it is necessary to pull air out of the sealed off area before work begins. Air vents may need to be sealed in order to ensure that particles released do not contaminate the rest of the building.

It is a detailed process. Only after the area has been prepared can the true work begin. Once the materials are removed, clean up is necessary. Special H class vacuums must be used for cleanup because all other vacuums will expel the fibers back into the air.

Those are the basics of removing asbestos. A qualified removal specialist can give you the details in your specific situation.

by: Wayne Messick

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