Asbestos
is made up of a collection of heat resistant fibers. It is perhaps best known as an insulation type in both residential and commercial buildings, but asbestos can also be found in building materials such as paint, caulk, ceiling tiles, roofing tiles, vinyl siding etc.
Asbestos is classified as a carcinogenic material and since it is resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion it is impossible to completely destroy. Once absorbed into the body over long periods of time, asbestos can cause cancer (mesothelioma, lung, ovarian, and laryngeal), tumors, inflammation, and internal organ scarring.
If your home or building was constructed before the 1980s, there is an increased chance that it contains asbestos. In 1973, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) banned asbestos based, spray-on insulation, drastically declining the amount of asbestos used in building construction. In 1989, the
EPA issued a further rule prohibiting most asbestos based products, although it was overturned in 1991. Although asbestos may be regulated in products made in the US, there is no ban that currently exists on imported, asbestos based products from counties like China and Russia.
