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AMI performs testing for asbestos in
residential and commercial properties.
 Asbestos is a group of similar minerals with the
distinguishing characteristic of separable,
long, thin fibers. These fibers are too small to
be seen without the aid of a special microscope.
Typically, asbestos fibers are only dangerous if
they are disturbed and become airborne. Asbestos
fibers floating in the air are easily inhaled.
Scientists have recognized asbestos as a
health threat to humans because these fibers can
be inhaled and cause cancer and other pulmonary
diseases. These fibers are very difficult to
remove from the lungs and the time lag between
inhalation and any adverse health manifestations
can be as long as 30 or more years.
Although statistics have shown a growing
number of individuals who have never worked with
asbestos are suffering with asbestos-related
illness, most documented cases of such diseases
are caused by occupational exposure. This is due
to the likeliness of repeated exposure, which
occurs through standard operations in a variety
of industries and jobsites.
Naturally, jobsites such as asbestos mines,
processing plants, and manufacturing plants
where were made, have a legacy of high
occupational exposure. However, there are many
other jobsites such as shipyards,
auto-manufacturing plants, metalworks, oil
refineries, power plants, and chemical plants
that also share a long history of asbestos
exposure as well. Those who worked at these
jobsites during the 1900's were probably exposed
to a number of asbestos-containing products and
materials and are now at risk of developing
mesothelioma
and other asbestos-related illnesses.
 Certain occupations also carry an elevated
risk of asbestos exposure. Because asbestos was
used in a wide variety of both industrial and
domestic products, many occupations came in
contact with the toxic substance.
For example, since asbestos was sintegrated into
so many plumbing and electrical materials, both
plumbers and electricians have an increased risk
of contracting asbestos-related disease.
Firefighters also fall under this category
because exposure can occur while working around
older asbestos-contaminated homes. Many other
occupations share a history of asbestos exposure
as well, such as construction and railroad
workers, auto mechanics, and machinists.
While most accounts of asbestos exposure
occur in an occupational setting, accidental
exposure is another way people have come in
contact with this caustic substance.
For example, the World Trade Center attacks that
took place on September 11, 2001 set an
estimated 2,000 tons of asbestos into the air in
the form of a fine dust.
According to a 2006 Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention report, an alarming 62 percent of
those caught in the dust cloud are coping with
respiratory problems. Another incidence of
accidental exposure was caused by the costliest
natural disaster in U.S. history-Hurricane
Katrina. The hurricane damaged thousands of
older asbestos-contaminated homes, many of which
remain standing today. Nearly three years after
the storm hit, the area is still struggling to
restore infrastructure and prevent asbestos
exposure from the remaining asbestos-laden
structures.
 Popcorn
ceilings (also known as acoustic ceilings) were
extremely popular in most homes built from the
late 1950s right through the early 80s. It is
uncertain as to why popcorn ceilings got to be
so popular, but some explanations are that - it
was easy to apply, it was a good noise damping
agent, it hid imperfections in the ceiling, and
a host of other reasons.
Popcorn ceilings had certain drawbacks such as
difficulty in cleaning, but the biggest drawback
today is the presence of asbestos in it. Almost
all building material including cement, roofing,
tiling, insulation, and paint from the 1930s
right through the mid 80s contained asbestos in
them.
Analysis by an accredited testing laboratory
is the only way to know for certain whether a
material contains asbestos.
The EPA requires that the asbestos content of
suspect materials be determined by analyzing
samples with polarized light microscopy (PLM).
PLM analysis results give the percent and type
of asbestos in the sample. The asbestos content
of manufactured items ranges from one percent to
100 percent.
The major forms of asbestos used commercially
were chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite.
Tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite are of
less commercial value. Asbestos containing
materials (ACM) are mixtures of individual
asbestos fibers and binding material.
- Chrysotile is the most common type of
asbestos found in buildings. Also known as
"white asbestos," chrysotile makes up
approximately 90%-95% of all asbestos
contained in buildings in the United States.
- Amosite is the second most prevalent
type of asbestos found in building
materials. Amosite is also known as "brown
asbestos."
- Crocidolite or "blue asbestos," is found
in specialized high temperature
applications.
Asbestos samples should only be sent to an
EPA-approved laboratory for analysis. AMI uses
the top lab in the county for all asbestos
analysis. |
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