Many people don’t know that It wasn’t until 1989 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule in an effort to effectively ban most asbestos-containing products. Prior to the ban, asbestos was among the most common construction materials both in residential and commercial buildings. According to OSHA, materials assumed to contain asbestos if installed prior to 1981 include (but are not limited to) the following: thermal system installation; roofing and siding shingles; vinyl floor tiles; plaster, cement, putties and caulk; ceiling tiles and spray-on coatings; industrial pipe wrapping; heat-resistant textiles; automobile brake linings and clutch pads.
Although it’s now illegal to use or manufacture materials containing asbestos, many people still live in homes that were built with materials containing toxic asbestos fibers. According to OSHA, once asbestos fibers become released into the air, they can easily become inhaled without knowing and get trapped in the lungs and, if swallowed, lodged into the digestive tract. Asbestos is known for causing chronic lung disease, lung cancer, and other cancers. Cancer or other symptoms may take years to develop after asbestos exposure.
Unsure if you have asbestos that needs to be removed? See our Asbestos Abatement page to learn more!