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Asbestos is a naturally ocurring mineral comprised of flexible fibers that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make asbestos useful, but they also make it highly toxic.
Asbestos was a widely-used material in thousands of construction elements and consumer products prior to the 1980s. Between 1900 and 1980, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that more than 30 million tons of asbestos were used.
Asbestos can be found in but not limited to floor tile, adhesive, glue, ceiling tile, popcorn ceilings, piping insulation, HVAC ducts, siding, roof shingles, roof felt, gypsum board, joint compound, plaster, paper, millboard, cement sheets, wall insulation, attic insulation, boiler insulation, fireplaces and more.
The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA only recommends testing suspect materials if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if you are planning a renovation that would disturb the suspect material. Samples should be taken by a properly trained and accredited asbestos professional (inspector).
It is widely recognized that asbestos is a human carcinogen, and its use is highly regulated, both by OSHA and the EPA. Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risks from asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled.
If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos. The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhale some asbestos fibers. The degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurred. If you choose to remove the vermiculite insulation, this work should be done by a trained and accredited asbestos abatement contractor that is separate and independent from the company that performed the assessment of the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict of interest.
You can perform an internet search for “asbestos inspection and assessment” and the location of your home. Also, make sure that the inspector is properly trained and accredited by your state.
If the pipes are damaged they should be properly repaired or replaced by your water utility. For more information regarding asbestos in drinking water please visit: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/asbestos.cfm
Does dry wall or sheet rock contain asbestos?
There’s no way to know whether these materials contain asbestos without having them tested. If you’re concerned those materials in your home may contain asbestos and the materials are damaged (frayed, falling apart) or if you are performing a renovation that will disturb the material, please consult a state accredited asbestos inspection firm.
Reference Phone Numbers for Regulatory Agencies:
Illinois Department of Public Health Asbestos Abatement Section
525 West Jefferson
Springfield, IL 62761
(217)782-3517
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 N. Grand Avenue East
PO Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
(217)785-2011
• Pre Demolition
• Industrial Maintenance
• Residential Purchases
• Remodeling Projects
• Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions
• A thorough visual assessment of the affected building
• Inventory of suspect material
• Bulk sample extraction
• Laboratory analysis
• Survey reporting
• Recommendations
217-562-7002