This document discusses the dangers of asbestos exposure and requirements for safe removal. It notes that lung cancer and mesothelioma are the most common asbestos-related cancers in the US, affecting thousands each year. The document outlines required protective equipment for asbestos workers, proper removal and disposal procedures, and compliance monitoring by regulatory agencies. Long term effects of asbestos exposure are described, including asbestosis, lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and mesothelioma, which may not appear for decades after initial exposure.

1. Cross-Cutting Issues
(Asbestos)
Presented by: Steven Andrews

2.  Are you an asbestos worker? Did your employer provide you with the required protective equipment?
 Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed asbestos-related cancer in the United States, affecting
about 4,800 people each year.
 Mesothelioma is the second-most diagnosed cancer caused by asbestosis. It affects about 3,000 people
in the U.S. each year and it is almost exclusively caused by the naturally occurring mineral.
Introduction

3. Discussion Topics
 Asbestos removal requirements
 Compliance monitoring
 Long term effects from asbestos exposure

4. Asbestos Removal
Requirements
 Disposable coveralls
 APR
 Disposable gloves
 Required by law and regulated through EPA and MDH

5. Asbestos Removal Requirements
 People that are not wearing the required gear should NOT be able to step into the work area
 Asbestos waste (such as floor tiles, roofing and insulation materials) should be disposed of properly, in a
disposable garbage bag and sent to a landfill that can deposit such materials
 Any ACM found by the asbestos abatement team should be removed as soon as possible because it could still
be releasing the deadly fibers
 If all of these requirements are met, the safety of everyone is ensured, and the asbestos removal process can
be considered as successful.

6. Compliance Monitoring
 One of the key components Agency uses to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that the
regulated community obeys environmental laws/regulations through on-site visits by qualified inspectors, and a
review of the information EPA or a state/tribe requires to be submitted.
 EPA: promotes compliance incentives and auditing to encourage facilities to find and disclose violations to the
Agency.
 Violations may also be discovered from tips/complaints received by the Agency from the public.
 If discovered, as a result of any of these activities may lead to civil enforcement or criminal enforcement. The Agency also
provides compliance assistance to the regulated community to help them understand their requirements and to minimize or
prevent violations from occurring at regulated facilities

7. Long- Term Effects From
Exposur e
 Asbestosis:
 Breathing disorder; fibers damage and cause scarring and stiffness of your lung tissue; you may experience shortness of breath, coughing,
chest pain and finger deformities (clubbing).
 Lung Cancer:
 Exposure can increase your chances of developing lung cancer. Symptoms; trouble breathing, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), wheezing,
unexplained weight loss, hoarseness and anemia (low red blood cell counts).
 Pulmonary Hypertension:
 Scar tissue as a result of asbestos exposure can lead to high blood pressure in your lungs. This occurs because the scarred tissue from your
lungs can compress your lung's blood vessels.
 Mesothelioma:
 Cancer of the thin layer of tissue lining the stomach, heart, lungs and other organs. It may cause pain at the side of the chest, weight loss,
cough, fatigue and swelling of the arms and face.
 Effects on Your Heart:
 Long-term asbestos exposure can lead to heart problems, including cor pulmonale (failure of the right side of the heart). As a result, the heart
will be unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to the rest of the body.

8.  Asbestos is a long, thin, fibrous crystal that is naturally occurring and found in such products as
vinyl floor tiles, cement and insulation.
 Its tiny fibers are difficult to remove from the lungs and complications of asbestos exposure may
not even appear until 30 years after initial asbestos exposure.
 Chronic exposure to asbestos can lead to serious long-term effects including the onset of cancer
and even death.
Facts to Note

9. Summary
 PPE for handling asbestos
 Asbestos removal
 Long term effects

10. Cross-Cutting Issues
(Asbestos)
Steven Andrews Chessa Banks