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Asbestos Containment

Asbestos is all around us. Asbestos-containing products are present in older homes, office buildings, schools, libraries, shopping malls and theaters, in cars and trucks, trains and planes. Asbestos containment is performed in an effort to remove or at least limit the presence of asbestos in our environment.

Asbestos was widely used in the maritime, building, automotive and industrial industries during the 1900s. However, medical studies performed in the mid-1970s revealed that when broken down and disturbed, asbestos forms a toxic dust that can be easily inhaled.

Once the harmful effects of asbestos exposure were discovered, asbestos use was banned from most industries. Because it was widely used before the 1970s, thousands of products still contain asbestos. In an effort to protect the health of individuals working with asbestos-filled products, the federal and state governments have created laws and regulations regarding asbestos containment.

OSHA Regulations for Asbestos Containment

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency designed to enforce asbestos containment in the workplace. OSHA requires employers of individuals dealing with asbestos to create controlled environments that are sealed off from the outside world. Employers are required to provide all employees entering the designated area with protective clothing and respiratory equipment. Showers must also be on site so any workers handling asbestos can shower and change into clean clothes before leaving work; this is to prevent workers from transporting any asbestos fibers home with them in their shoes, clothing or hair.

Asbestos Professionals Can Help with Containment

Laws and regulations also require that all products containing asbestos be handled by trained professionals. Asbestos is only harmful when it is damaged or disturbed and the fibers become loose causing mesothelioma cancer. Therefore, owners of homes and commercial buildings built before the 1970s, for example, are required to have a trained professional assess any asbestos-filled products before removing the products or remodeling.

Professionals trained to safely handle the toxic material can arm themselves with protective gear to prevent harmful exposure. Professionals can also suggest the appropriate way to contain the asbestos fibers since not all asbestos-filled products need to be removed. Protective coatings can be applied to asbestos-containing products such as insulation to keep the fibers from separating. While asbestos is harmful, sometimes it is better to use protective coatings to contain it because removing it completely can disturb the mineral and release the toxic fibers into the air.

An Overwhelming Presence of Asbestos

When the carcinogenic properties of asbestos were finally acknowledged and accepted in both the scientific and legal communities, the federal government began to limit the products that could contain asbestos, and large-scale asbestos containment projects were begun. However, asbestos was already widely used in thousands of existing products and in millions of individual applications such as:

  • Acoustic and decorative plaster
  • Asphalt floor tile
  • Brake linings
  • Caulking, putties, spackling compound, joint compound
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Cement pipes, wallboard and siding
  • Chalkboards
  • Construction glues
  • Elevator equipment panels
  • Fireproofing materials
  • Gaskets
  • Heating and electrical ducts
  • Pipe, duct, and boiler insulation
  • Pumps
  • Roofing shingles and felt
  • Sprayed and blown-in insulation
  • Textured coatings and paints
  • Vinyl flooring and wall covering

Asbestos Containment Projects Present a Risk

Hundreds of thousands of buildings across the United States have asbestos-containing components. As these buildings age and deteriorate, so do the materials that contain asbestos. When asbestos gets old or damaged, it starts to crumble. When asbestos crumbles, or when it is disturbed in the process of asbestos containment (removal), it is likely to release tiny fibers of asbestos into the air.

The people who perform asbestos containment work are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers, once lodged internally, can start a disease process that ends in lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma cancer. Even people who are not dealing directly with an asbestos containment project may be exposed to asbestos in the air, especially if the containment was not done properly.

Learn More about Asbestos Containment Risks

If you have developed an asbestos cancer disease following an asbestos containment effort, it's a good idea for you to learn all that you can about the options available to you. Contact mesothelioma treatment centers to find out more about the risks of asbestos containment.

Questions about Asbestos Containment

If you have questions about asbestos containment, consult an experienced asbestos abatement contractor in your area to learn more about your options.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by asbestos exposure, contact mesothelioma treatment centers today. We can help you explore your options.

Asbestos Containment (english) / Contencion del Asbesto (spanish)

Supporting Cancer Research

More than half a million Americans die from cancer every year, and the number of those due to mesothelioma is steadily increasing. You can help the fight against cancer by contributing to a governmental or private organization dedicated to finding treatments through research. Visit our list of organizations that accept cancer donations.