Air Quality Experts, Inc.

FAQS about asbestos and mold. Q: What is asbestos”? A: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used in more than 3,000 different construction materials and manufactured products. It is commonly found in heating system insulation, decorative spray on ceiling treatment, vinyl flooring, cement shake siding and a variety of other materials. Some asbestos containing materials were still being installed in the late 1980s. The asbestos content of different materials varies according to the product and how it is used. Among those materials with higher concentrations of asbestos are insulating products on heating systems and the backing on sheet vinyl flooring. However, an uncontrolled disturbance of any asbestos containing material in any concentration may be dangerous to your health! Q: Why is it a problem? A: When disturbed, asbestos breaks down into fibers up to 1,200 times thinner than a human hair. When inhaled, they become trapped in lung tissues. Medical research tells us that up to 30 years after inhalation, asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma, a related terminal cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity. Because asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and has been so widely used in manufactured products, including automobile brake linings, it can be found almost everywhere. Trace amounts are in the air we breathe every day. Most of us have asbestos fibers in our lungs. On the other hand, there's no known safe level of asbestos exposure. That's why medical, environmental health and regulatory organizations stress the need to protect health by minimizing exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. This is particularly true when asbestos fibers accumulate at elevated levels. Elevated levels result from uncontrolled disturbances and removals of asbestos containing materials. Q: How do I know if it's asbestos? A: Don't guess! Look for asbestos marking on the product or track the product back to it's manufacturer or supplier. If these approaches don't work, submit a small sample for laboratory analysis. Cost is minimal. Laboratories are listed in the yellow pages under "Asbestos Consulting and Testing." Ask a laboratory technician to instruct you how to safely take a sample. If you decide not to check for asbestos in a suspected material, you should assume it contains asbestos and treat it accordingly.  Here's where to look: ·Heating Systems Many home heating appliances and heating systems contain asbestos insulation or gasket materials. It's common to find it as insulation on old furnaces and boilers, heating ducts and hot water pipes. It's also often found in insulating board materials installed under or around heating appliances. ·Spray on "Popcorn" Ceilings This heavy texture application was a common asbestos containing ceiling treatment from mid 1960s through the early 1980s. It's extremely fragile and is easily disturbed. ·Vinyl Flooring Sheet vinyl and tiles may contain asbestos if manufactured prior to the mid 1980s. Sheet vinyl can be dangerous to remove because it may be backed with felt containing high concentrations of asbestos. Fibers may be readily released into the air if this backing is disturbed dry. Tiles are generally safer because asbestos fibers are bound up inside the tiles in a petroleum base. ·Siding Cement asbestos board siding is a very dense, brittle product used primarily in the 1940s, 1950s and into the 1960s. ·Miscellaneous Additional materials that my contain asbestos include "acoustical" ceiling tiles, plaster, stucco, knob and tube wire insulation and artificial fireplace logs and ashes. Q:It's asbestos! What do I do now? A:You've confirmed that it is asbestos.  Don't panic.  You have good options. 1.Repair & encapsulate Sometimes, asbestos can be repaired or encapsulated rather than removed. A few inches of torn, loose or frayed asbestos tape wrap on heating ducts can be sealed with paint or duct tape. Damaged hot water pipe insulation can be covered with specially designed fabric available at safety equipment stores. Similarly, some asbestos applications that are in good condition can be encapsulated to stabilize them and reduce the likelihood of asbestos releases. There are two types of encapsulants. Penetrating encapsulants seep into asbestos containing materials and bond with asbestos fibers. They have little impact on the outward appearance of treated materials. Bridging encapsulant products, such as paint, coat asbestos containing materials with a more durable surface. They are most commonly used to encapsulate popcorn ceilings and furnace/heat duct insulation. Homeowners should be aware, however, that although encapsulation seems like an attractive option, especially when dealing with furnace ducts or in sealing popcorn ceilings, there may be less obvious costs and risks involved. For example, painting may make a future removal much more difficult. It also can cause heavy popcorn applications or popcorn that has been water damaged, to fall off ceilings in clumps.  In cases involving extensive asbestos damage or disturbance, removal may be the more appropriate option. 2.Remove it ·Hire an asbestos contractor. If you decide to have asbestos removed, we strongly encourage you to use a state certified, bonded and insured asbestos abatement contractor. These experts employ removal techniques unavailable to do it yourself homeowners, thereby ensuring asbestos is effectively and safely removed.  If required they also perform air monitoring to ensure that the air in your home meets acceptable standards after the project is completed. Asbestos Do's And Don'ts ·If Asbestos is present, or when a material is suspected to be asbestos: ·Take every precaution necessary to avoid damaging asbestos materials. ·Keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged materials that may contain asbestos. ·Have analysis and corrective type work performed by licensed asbestos professionals. ·Do not dust sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. These actions will disturb tiny asbestos fibers and may release them into the air you breathe. Inspect Your Home For Asbestos Asbestos professionals can conduct an inspection, take samples of suspected material, assess their condition, and advise about what corrections, if any, are needed and who is qualified to make these corrections. MOLD: Q:How do molds affect people? A:Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. Asthma and Mold: Molds can trigger asthma episodes in sensitive individuals with asthma.  People with asthma should avoid contact with or exposure to molds. Q: What about toxic mold? A:The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Q: Can mold make me sick? A: Yes. Certain people have a minor allergic reactions to the non-toxic mold,  but once you leave the affected area they most likely recover with few serious side effects. However, if they have been exposed to the dangerous molds such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, they could suffer from a myriad of serious symptoms and illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, heart problems, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple chemical sensitivity, bleeding lungs and much more Air Quality Experts, Inc. Phone: 800-621-1189 23 Hall Farm RD, Atkinson, 03811 Did you know? Air Quality for Schools Twenty percent of the U.S. population, nearly 55 million people, spend their days in our elementary and secondary schools. In the mid-1990s, studies show that 1 in 5 of our nation's 110,000 schools reported unsatisfactory indoor air quality, and 1 in 4 schools reported ventilation -- which impacts indoor air quality -- as unsatisfactory. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants.