Early Findings of Asbestos
First century Grecian culture used a word to describe something that was “inextinguishable”; that word is “asbestos”.  The material that received this status was considered miraculous, since the mineral displayed the as-yet-unknown ability to tolerate heat and flames.  Eventually, ancient Greeks and Romans developed methods to apply it to daily uses, such as weaving it into cloths and using asbestos as lamp wicks.  For unknown reasons, however, asbestos was not popular until the late 1800’s, when Canadian deposits were found to contain large amounts of this mineral.  Once its amazing insulation properties were realized, asbestos’s utilization was found almost everywhere heat reinforcement was needed.

Asbestos Findings and Classifications
Once people could recognize the thin, stringy fibers that define this natural group of minerals, it was discovered all over the world.  Soon, it began to be mined commercially in the United States, South Africa, the Soviet Union and Canada.  The invention of microscopes brought another dimension to the knowledge of asbestos; one specimen was seen as displaying a layered structure, and they were termed “serpentine”.  Other asbestos crystals appeared in a type of chain, and were dubbed “amphiboles”.  The former was predominantly composed of a mineral named Chrysotile, which being white, is still referred to as “white asbestos" and is found in about 95% of older American construction.  Brown asbestos is the next often used in buildings, derived from the amphibole Amosite, while the blue amphibole asbestos, Crocidolite, was primarily relegated to heat insulation.

Asbestos In Older Homes
Older homes often contain asbestos that can become a health hazard if the materials that contain it become damaged. When asbestos containing materials are disturbed, they can release asbestos fibers into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. Once inside your body, the asbestos fibers can lodge in your tissues and eventually result in cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. For more information on mesothelioma treatment and asbestos cancer please see www.Asbestos.com.

Asbestos Manufacturing and Construction Uses and Applications
Acoustic, heating, and fire insulation, as well as condensation control, account for most asbestos use.  It is therefore frequently found in roofing and flooring.  Specific areas are between columns, pipes, ducts, decking, suspended ceilings, and steel beams.  Asbestos was also mixed into concrete products to increase strength, and these have been utilized in wallboard, siding, partitions, and shingles. Asbestos and related materials (sand, gypsum, etc.) may also have been sprayed on surfaces with a binding agent, or applied with trowels.  Pretty soon, it was included in the manufacture of artificial fireplaces, pot holders, ironing board pads, hairdryers, toasters, furnace door gaskets, wires, auto brake pads and linings, spackling compounds, tiling, and even textured paint.

Asbestos Banning
Once the respiratory dangers of inhaling microscopic fibers of asbestos were realized, it was banned during the 1970’s in spray applications, hairdryers, and in certain pipe coverings, patching products and artificial fireplace logs. During the 1990’s, the U.S. banned all such material for use in home construction. However, older structures and items probably still contain some amount of asbestos, as well as products from other countries; frequently asbestos is not labeled.

Asbestos Recognition and Response
Asbestos usually appears soft and fluffy, and ranges in color from pale gray to white.  The majority of the time, it’s not dangerous when strongly bonded to other fibers.  But occasionally, fibers in crumbling materials or those which are scraped, sanded or filed can become dislodged and start drifting away on air currents.  This can easily happen during remodeling or demolition.  If asbestos fibers are airborne, but the host material is undamaged, sealing or covering asbestos to prevent additional release may be a temporary fix.  Should the surrounding surfaces be damaged, asbestos will need to be removed. 

Steps for Asbestos Identification and Removal
Removing asbestos, in many cases, legally requires a licensed contractor who will handle it according to federal and state disposal regulations, as well as notify the Environmental Protection Agency.  Prior to this, it may be save time and money to ensure that the suspected material really is asbestos. A local testing company or state health agency can collect the appropriate size of samples to analyze under polarized light microscopy.  The findings will ascertain the type and percent of asbestos.

For more information on asbestos exposure and abatement please visit the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.