Whether you are planning a small remodel, having a new floor installed, or needing a complete demolition of a building we can help you inspect the materials being disturbed for asbestos. As an asbestos consultant we take care to assess each potentially dangerous material and determine through laboratory testing if it is positive or negative. 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was once widely used in various industries due to its strength, heat resistance, and insulating properties. There are several types of asbestos but chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most common type and has been used in many applications. Some of the reasons it has been uses are...

• Heat Resistance: Asbestos is highly heat-resistant and was commonly used in materials for fireproofing and insulation. It was widely used in building materials such as popcorn ceilings, roofing shingles, drywall texture, ceiling and floor tiles, insulation for pipes and boilers and many other products.

• Strength and Durability: Asbestos fibers are strong and flexible, making them useful in products requiring reinforcement and durability. It was used in automotive brake pads and linings, gaskets, and in other various construction materials.

• Versatility: Asbestos can be spun or woven into fabrics and used in textiles for protective clothing and other applications where fire resistance was important.  Even the Romans weaved asbestos fibers into a cloth-like material that was used as tablecloths and napkins. These cloths were cleaned by throwing them into a fire, from which they came out unharmed and whiter than when they went in.

Despite its beneficial properties, asbestos is now known to pose significant health risks when its fibers are released into the air and inhaled. As a result, the use of asbestos is heavily regulated or banned in many countries.

Asbestos poses serious health risks primarily due to its fibrous nature and the ease with which its microscopic fibers can be inhaled. Prolonged or intense exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious respiratory diseases. Some dangers associated with asbestos exposure are below.

• Respiratory Issues: Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to serious respiratory conditions such as asbestosis (a chronic lung disease), lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

• Long Latency Period: Diseases caused by asbestos exposure often have a long latency period, sometimes taking 10-30 years to manifest symptoms after initial exposure.

• Occupational Exposure: Historically, asbestos was widely used in various industries such as construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. Workers involved in these industries, as well as those performing renovations or demolitions of older buildings, are at higher risk of exposure.

• Secondary Exposure: Family members of workers exposed to asbestos can also be at risk due to fibers brought home on clothing, skin, or hair.