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Do you know what the most commonly asbestos-containing products are? From household items to construction materials, asbestos has been used for decades. Learn what the most dangerous products that can lead to asbestos-related conditions are.
What Are The Most Common Asbestos-containing Products?
1. WHAT ARE
THE MOST COMMON
ASBESTOS-CONTAINING
PRODUCTS?
B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y
E N V I R O N M E N T A L L I T I G A T I O N G R O U P , P . C .
2. "Even though the serious health
risks of prolonged exposure to
asbestos had been suggested
since the 1900s, it was not until
the 1970s that multiple
government agencies deemed
asbestos carcinogenic."
Michael Bartlett
3. TYPES OF ASBESTOS
Asbestos refers to a group of several
naturally occurring minerals, six of which
have been formally recognized: chrysotile,
actinolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite,
tremolite, and amosite.
However, asbestos is commonly divided
into two groups: chrysotile and amphibole.
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos,
has the highest prevalence, being used as
a raw material in approximately 95% of all
asbestos-containing products.
Amphibole is encountered less in
consumer products nowadays.
4. WHY WAS ASBESTOS
USED?
Efficient heat insulator;
Greater tensile strength than steel;
Non-flammable;
Thermal stability and resistance;
Electrical stability and resistance;
Good for soundproofing;
Good against corrosion;
Durable;
Accessible and low-cost.
Asbestos has numerous convenient
properties such as:
Asbestos was not considered a health
hazard until the 1970s when the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer
deemed asbestos carcinogenic.
5. COMMON USES OF
ASBESTOS
Up to 5,000 different asbestos-containing
consumer products have been manufactured over
the course of the previous century in the U.S.
Construction materials, household appliances,
and automotive components are just three of the
most important categories of asbestos-containing
products.
Between 1940 and 1972, the U.S. Navy began
increasing the use of asbestos-containing
insulation for their vessels.
Occupational exposure accounts for the majority
of asbestos-related conditions but the workplace
is not the only place where these toxic minerals
are present. Houses built before the 1980s may
also pose a great risk for the health of their
inhabitants.
6. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
THAT MAY CONTAIN
ASBESTOS:
insulation;
vinyl floor tiles;
asphalt floor tiles;
cement wallboards;
shingles;
textured paint;
roofing felt;
mastics;
adhesives;
wires;
putty;
tapes;
fuse boxes;
plastic;
boilers;
electrical panels;
furnaces;
heating ducts;
pumps;
sheet rope;
turbines;
floor backing;
cables;
generators;
cement;
tiles;
calcium silicate;
fire doors;
metal mesh blankets;
siding;
tar paper;
decorative plasters'
ductwork connectors;
zonolite insulation;
acoustical plasters;
fire blankets.
7. HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
THAT MAY CONTAIN
ASBESTOS:
hair dryers;
boilers;
toasters;
fertilizers;
electric heaters
dishwashers;
slow cookers;
agricultural fillers;
fume hoods;
barbecue mitts;
stovepipe rings;
deep fryers;
ovens;
curling irons;
pot holders;
ironing board covers;
crock pots;
talcum powder;
cigarette filters;
stove mats;
washers;
electric blankets;
popcorn poppers.
8. AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS
THAT MAY CONTAIN
ASBESTOS:
brake clutches;
car exhausts;
heat seals;
hood lining;
gaskets;
valve rings;
disc pads;
packing;
car batteries;
insulation;
engines;
brake lining;
drum brakes;
transmission plates;
brake pads.
9. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
THAT MAY CONTAIN
ASBESTOS:
respirators;
dust masks;
aprons;
laboratory gloves
sleeves;
glassblower mitts;
leggings;
firefighter protective equipment;
protective clothing for foundry and
metal workers.
10. If you suspect asbestos is present in
one or multiple products in your
house, it is recommended not to
disturb the item in question in any
way, as friction often leads to fibers
being released into the air,
especially when materials are
brittle or loosely-bound.
ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION GROUP, PC
11. If you need to remove an item that you
suspect is contaminated with asbestos
it is strongly recommended to opt for
the professional services of an
asbestos abatement company whose
well-trained employees will
efficiently remove the carcinogenic
minerals from your home.
ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION GROUP, PC
12. L E A R N M O R E
A B O U T A S B E S T O S E X P O S U R E :
P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y :
E N V I R O N M E N T A L L I T I G A T I O N G R O U P , P . C .
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