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Asbestos was used for many years in building construction. It occurs naturally as a fiber. These individual fibers are so small they are invisible to the naked eye. Most asbestos is not hazardous in its original, undisturbed state. Once it is disturbed, it releases asbestos fibers. Asbestos was used in boiler and pipe insulation, plasters, floor tile, electrical insulation, and as a fireproofing material on structural members in buildings. It has also been sprayed on ceilings and walls as acoustic insulation.
In the mid 1970s several types of asbestos were banned by the EPA, due to the concern of the health effects, more specifically cancer, associated with exposure. Symptoms of asbestos related diseases do not occur soon after exposure. Those who are sick today because of asbestos may have been exposed up to 40 years ago. Controlling exposures now will prevent disease and suffering decades later.
The removal of asbestos, otherwise known as abatement, is usually done during remodeling, renovation or maintenance inside enclosures to prevent the fibers from spreading. Workers wear respirators and disposable coveralls to protect themselves during the process. To prevent any attached fibers from getting into the surrounding air, the coveralls are immediately disposed of when the worker exits. When a job has been completed, samples of the surrounding air are analyzed under a phase-contrast microscope. Based upon the results, the area is either cleared or re-cleaned and re-sampled. If the area is declared "clear," it is opened to normal occupancy and all warning signs are removed.
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