Asbestos at Home
Uncommon Asbestos Applications in the Past
Throughout most of the 20th century, asbestos was a popular building material that became standard in manufacturing, industrial industry, and in many households. Today, when we think of asbestos, we might imagine insulation, siding, roofing, and vinyl floor tiles as common asbestos applications. However, because of its appearance, sound proofing, and heat resistant capabilities, asbestos was…
Read MoreAsbestos in the State of Pennsylvania
Throughout much of the 20th century, asbestos was a popular building material due to its heat resistance, high-tensile strength, and affordability. As the dangers of asbestos became known, its use declined. The carcinogen was even banned for a short period of time in the late 1980s. However, its widespread use has had lingering effects on society…
Read MoreHow Long Does Asbestos Remain in the Air?
Asbestos is a naturally earth-formed fibrous, silicate mineral found in rocks and soil. Asbestos is odorless, insoluble, heat, and fire-resistant. Despite its strength and thermal resistance, asbestos can become brittle and break down into microscopic, glass-like particles that can become airborne. Once airborne, humans can inhale these particles nearby and cause severe cancerous and non-cancerous…
Read MoreAsbestos Duct Wrap
Asbestos was a popular building material in which its unique fibrous structure made it ideal for insulation and fireproofing. Most buildings and homes built before the 1980s contain asbestos insulation in the walls and attic. HVAC system ductwork, registers, and pipe systems may have been wrapped with asbestos duct wrap. It was not until the 1970s…
Read MoreFriable Vs. Non-Friable Asbestos
Asbestos was used extensively in buildings and materials for decades until the 1980s because of its unique characteristics. Asbestos is affordable, durable, and fire and heat-resistant, making it a desirable ingredient for construction, manufacturing, and certain materials. Unfortunately, asbestos is also hazardous to human health. What is Friability?Friability is the likelihood of asbestos-containing materials breaking…
Read More