FAQ's

Asbestos causes cancer. Asbestos was used in building products and is still used to this day. Although much less. Only Thermal System Insulation (TSI) and automotive brake shoes have been officially banned for manufacture or import. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in certain types of rock formations in many locations throughout the world. Asbestos can take the form of long, thin, separable fibers. Most asbestos used in the U.S. was imported from mines in Canada, China, and Africa. A smaller amount of asbestos was mined from locations in the U.S.

When milled for various applications asbestos is a very small fiber, about 5 microns, they cannot be seen by the naked eye. The small fiber looking objects you may see when you tear a piece of linoleum paper backing is not asbestos fibers, they are supporting binders, those supporting binders you see are the size of a 10-foot diameter redwood tree, the asbestos fibers inside the supporting binder would be the size of a needle. Clearly not visible. Asbestos can only be positively identified with a microscope, specific preparation techniques, and training in identifying asbestos fibers from other fibers that look similar.

There are two major groups of asbestos:

Serpentine Asbestos

• Chrysotile

Amphibole Asbestos

• Tremolite
• Amosite
• Crocidolite
• Actinolite
• Anthophyllite

The major difference between serpentine and amphiboles is related to their chemical composition, acid-resistant properties, and their effects on human health.

Chrysotile asbestos does not persist in the lungs after inhalation; it is quickly eliminated by the body. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of chrysotile fibers is required for the clinical manifestation of pulmonary damage to appear. In the past, such high exposures were frequent; it is no longer the case today. Today, chrysotile is the only asbestos fiber commercialized, and still imported into the US. A trip to your local hardware store will demonstrate the continued use of asbestos, go to the area with roof patching material and read the ingredients.

Amphibole asbestos, on the other hand, because of their toxicity and their high bio persistence, is mainly responsible for mesothelioma and pulmonary diseases even caused after a short or moderate exposure.

Asbestos was used extensively in the past in building materials for its thermal insulating properties, and fire resistance. It was also used in industrial products, and automotive parts and components because of its strengthening properties.

Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated by OSHA, EPA, and many state and local agencies. These agency’s regulations were created to reduce asbestos exposure.

It’s hard to believe with all the evidence that asbestos causes cancer, that the US to this day, still imports products with asbestos. Officially, the only products banned from manufacture in the US or imported is Thermal System Insulation (TSI), and automotive brake shoes. If you don’t believe it, next time you go to your favorite hardware store, go look at Henry’s roofing products. The label clearly states it contains asbestos. Not common is floor tile that is still imported with asbestos. It is a common belief that asbestos was banned in 1980, untrue.

People have used asbestos for a long time. One of its earliest known usages was in Egypt. The queen would amuse guests by tossing an asbestos woven tablecloth into the fireplace. The tablecloth would not burn but all the food and drink stains would disappear leaving the tablecloth like new.

Today most products made do not contain asbestos. Those few products which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1980s, many types of building products and insulation materials were used in buildings containing asbestos. Common building products that might have contained asbestos in the past include:

There are no health threats when asbestos containing building materials remain undisturbed and do not become airborne. Asbestos containing floor tile is a good example of a building material that is not a health hazard when in good condition. Normal wear will not release fibers, in fact you would have to burn, grind, or use extreme mechanical methods to release enough fibers to be a health concern. On the other hand, popcorn ceiling texture can easily become airborne. If you simply rub your hand over the surface, you will cause a release of fibers.

All asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period, that is, it takes 20 to 40 years for the first symptoms to appear. Given the poor work conditions of the past, the widespread use of amphiboles up until the 70’s, and this long latency period, it is not surprising that new cases of asbestos-related disease continue to be observed. But this has nothing to do with today’s products containing only chrysotile and work conditions.

Uncontrolled work conditions, work with friable insulation materials and the extensive use of amphibole asbestos fibers in the past have resulted in asbestos-related disease. But times have changed: the types of fibers and products used are different, and dust control technology has evolved. Today, amphiboles are no longer used, the use of low-density friable insulation materials has been banned, and exposure limits for chrysotile are hundreds of times lower than past worker exposures.

Even if these friable products containing chrysotile are present in many commercial buildings, mostly in Europe and North America, removal of asbestos insulation should be considered a measure of last resort and undertaken only when the material is beyond repair or at the time of major renovation work or building demolition. Hasty elimination of asbestos insulation considerably increases the probability that controls will not be adequately enforced, thus presenting a source of risk not only for the workers, but for building occupants as well.

An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. OSHA and EPA asbestos rules are intertwined.

Asbestos workers have increased chances of getting two principal types of cancer: cancer of the lung tissue itself and mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs. These diseases do not develop immediately following exposure to asbestos but appear only after a few years. The following documents describe the health hazards of asbestos and how to recognize it.

From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:

• Lung cancer, many forms of lung cancer.
• Mesothelioma, is a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity.
• Asbestoses, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestoses have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

Most health information on asbestos exposure has been derived from studies of workers who have been exposed to asbestos during their occupation. Asbestos fiber concentrations for these workers were many times higher than those encountered by the public.

Because asbestos fibers are naturally occurring and extremely aerodynamic, virtually everyone is exposed to asbestos. To be a significant health concern, asbestos fibers must be inhaled at high concentrations over an extended period. Asbestos fibers then accumulate in the lungs. As exposure increases, the risk of disease also increases. Therefore, measures to minimize exposure and consequently minimize accumulation of fibers will reduce the risk of adverse health effects. Asbestos is only dangerous if it becomes airborne.

If asbestos containing materials are not damaged, the asbestos fibers do not become airborne and do not pose a health threat to the building occupants. During an asbestos building survey, inspectors assess the condition of asbestos containing materials. These conditions do deteriorate over time. If you find that an asbestos containing item has been damaged, please contact our office for a hazard assessment.

As asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs; several types of diseases may occur. Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange gases. This leads to inadequate oxygen intake to the blood. Asbestosis restricts breathing leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the airways. It is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to 30 years.

The next type of disease attributed to asbestos exposure is Mesothelioma. It is a cancer of the pleural lining. It is exclusively related to asbestos exposure. By the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal. Like other asbestos related diseases, mesothelioma has a longer latency period of 30 to 40 years.
Lung Cancer is a malignant tumor of the bronchi covering. The tumor grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. The time between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of lung cancer is 20 to 30 years. It should be noted that there is a synergistic effect between smoking and asbestos exposure, which creates an extreme susceptibility to lung cancer.

Asbestos is known to be hazardous based on studies of high levels of exposure to asbestos workers and laboratory animals. However, the risks associated with low level, non-occupational exposure are not well established. Therefore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concludes that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers. On the other hand, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) at 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) for an 8-hour time weighted average. Similarly, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has set the Clean Indoor Air Standard at 0.01 f/cc.

Controlling the exposure to asbestos can be done through engineering controls, administrative actions, and personal protective equipment. Engineering controls include such things as isolating the source and using ventilation systems. Administrative actions include limiting the workers exposure time and providing showers. Personal protective equipment includes wearing the proper respiratory protection and clothing. The following resources contain information to help control asbestos exposures.

In general, the answer is yes. The reason is that asbestos diseases normally have a 30-year period before showing up. For a 50-year-old, they may be 80 before they are sick. An infant or child may be in their 30’s. So, eliminating or reducing the risk of exposure when young is important.

When we have completed your work, we will e-mail you an invoice. For homeowners, the terms are Due upon completion. For businesses the terms may be 30 days or shorter. We prefer payment through mail by check, but we can take credit cards, with the fee being added to the invoice.

American Abatement’s employees are professionals trained to handle any type of asbestos materials and help determine the best course of action based on your specific needs.

We have exceptional credentials. All our workers are trained, experienced, reputable, and AHERA accredited. We have developed a reputation for being a safe, ethical, and cost-conscious asbestos abatement contractor.

American Abatement generally furnishes all:

and all other items necessary to complete the specific asbestos abatement scope on-time.

• We obtain all required permits including any necessary state, and local licenses.
• We will assist you in completing a NESHAP application if required.
  We maintain the following information for a period of at least 30 years for each project.
• Certificates of initial training showing that each Supervisor has successfully completed the required EPA approved Contractor/Supervisor course.
• Certificates of refresher training showing that each Supervisor has successfully completed the required EPA approved Contractor/Supervisor annual refresher course.
• Certificates of initial training showing that each asbestos worker has successfully completed the required EPA approved asbestos worker course.
• Certificates of refresher training showing that each asbestos worker has successfully completed the required EPA approved asbestos worker annual refresher course.
• OSHA Personnel air samples are analyzed by a qualified laboratory (NIOSH Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) Program or are accredited by the AIHA for asbestos.
• OSHA Medical examinations.
• Waste manifests signed by the transporter and the landfill at an EPA approved landfill.

Asbestos is a great building material. It has superior fire resistance. Water, a solvent does not deteriorate or change asbestos in any way. It is extremely strong. But, like all good things, the bad finally rears its ugly head. In your home you probably don’t realize it you could be surrounded by asbestos. It was manufactured in:

• Floor Tile.
• Mastics used to adhere tiles to floors.
• Linoleum.
• Ceramic tile.
• Asbestos cement pipe (ACP)
• Window caulking.
• Door caulking.
• Popcorn ceilings.
• Drywall.
• Texture on drywall.
• Joint compound on drywall.
• Stucco.
• Plaster.
• Flue pipes.
• Boilers.
• 1’ x 1’ ceiling tiles.
• Lay in ceiling tiles.
• Puck mastic adhering 1’ x 1’ tiles to drywall.
• Mirror mastic.
• Roofing.
• Duct tape on HVAC ductwork.
• Attic insulation.
• Sink undercoating.
• And other products.

The answer goes here.

There is only one way to positively identify asbestos, and that is specially trained persons with special microscopes that test for asbestos.

Probably not without contaminating your property. We use specialized equipment and have 24 years’ experience to safely remove asbestos. Without this knowledge and experience you will likely create a hazardous environment in your property. Although there are no rules or regulations preventing homeowners from doing this yourself, be aware, if you pay any person by money or barter any amount, you are now an employer, and are subject to all OSHA rules and regulations. This means you must be licensed, have the proper workers compensation insurance, workers training, medicals, and many other rules that a homeowner will not be capable of fulfilling. You could have expose yourself to future lawsuit that you will not be able to defend.

Not necessarily. Depending on your ability to get in and out of the house without walking through our containments will be the deciding factor. We can construct our containments in a way that you may be able to stay. We will always build a negative pressure containment to control asbestos fibers from getting outside the containment. So, the risk of exposure is minimal. If most of the home will be within the scope of our work, you will probably have to leave the home. We can work with you to make it as smooth as possible.

There are two main regulatory agencies that regulate asbestos removal. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The EPA regulates friable asbestos in commercial and industrial buildings, and will require a NESHAP permit, which may have a fee. OSHA regulates every project, regardless of size. It would include any structure, residential, commercial, industrial and any other place. OSHA creates regulation for the safety of workers.

There are many other agencies that regulate aspects of asbestos removal, like the transporter would be regulated by ADOT. The landfill is regulated by the Arizona Department of Environment Quality (ADEQ). Some cities have there own regulations.

A contractor with a license that allows asbestos removal. There are many license designations over the years that cover asbestos removal, our license is an L5 Specialty.

Yes.