Asbestos Products
EPA Addresses Legacy Asbestos Risks
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken significant steps in addressing the risks associated with legacy uses of asbestos. In a newly released draft risk evaluation, the EPA identifies disturbing and handling asbestos in legacy applications as presenting an “unreasonable risk” to human health. This draft represents the second phase of the EPA’s risk assessment…
Read MoreAsbestos Dangers & Employer Responsibilities in Pittsburgh
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in construction and manufacturing industries for its fire-resistant and insulating properties. However, it has since been discovered that exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Pittsburgh, like many other cities in the United States, has a history…
Read MoreAsbestos Cement Exposure: Roofing, Siding, and Pipes
Asbestos use dates back thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the Industrial Age and the mid- 20th century that asbestos was popularized as a building material. One of these common building materials was asbestos cement, or asbestos cement sheet (AC sheet) in which asbestos fibers were used to reinforce cement sheets. Asbestos cement can be…
Read MoreUncommon 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 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…
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