The legacy of asbestos still remains in the buildings we find today. Having asbestos abatement in Calgary done can help determine if a place is at risk of exposure and might need removal. But a question asked by man is if asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. Well, let’s find out.
What is Asbestos
The short answer is that asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of six heat-resistant fibers. A naturally occurring asbestos is the mineral you find in its natural form in soil and rocks. Thus, it is not yet a commercially produced product.
If the mineral is not disturbed or released into the air, it is not a health risk. But once mined, it can withstand heat and becomes a valuable material but is highly toxic. Nevertheless, manufacturers used it in plastic, paper, cement, cloth, to other materials in the building construction.
Still, when someone inhales the dust particles, the body traps them, resulting in decades of scarring and inflammation. Eventually, it can lead to cancer and other health concerns. Furthermore, asbestos falls into two categories Amphibole and Serpentine.
Amphibole asbestos fibers have a jagged shape, while Serpentine asbestos is known as blue asbestos and curly. On the other hand, you can find asbestos globally, but the leading exporters are China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Decades ago, you could find asbestos mined in Africa to North America. You can also find it in other minerals like talc and vermiculite.
Asbestos is Highly Toxic
Many scientific studies proved that asbestos links with different diseases. These are cancer, mesothelioma, to asbestosis. The truth is any amount of asbestos exposure is not safe. Yet, it worsens when a person becomes exposed to an intense mineral concentration. Even with regular exposure, it can worsen.
You quickly inhale the fibers once airborne, and the best is to avoid any disturbance of products with asbestos. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, millions of workers between 1940 and 1979 were exposed to it.
Until today construction workers remain at risk of asbestos exposure. Furthermore, asbestos kills many people a year with lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other diseases. Today, when people are exposed to asbestos, it is generally through the renovation or demolition of old buildings.
You find it in the cement, roofing, tiles, sealants, and coatings. Therefore, if you have an old office building, you can have asbestos abatement services done by an EPA contractor to ensure everyone’s safety.
EPA Asbestos Abatement Process
Now that you know that asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, it is your responsibility to keep your customers, residents, and employees safe. With an asbestos abatement company, they will do strictly regulated testing of the mineral to advise if it needs removal. Furthermore, they will ensure that the set of procedures specially designed for the process is set in place to prevent the spread of the mineral. The important thing is that you do not go the DIY route to do it yourself and become exposed to this highly toxic mineral. Instead, we recommend you always call in the pros to have the procedure done.
