Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement.
Hazards of asbestos siding.
Intact asbestos siding on your home poses no health risk as long as it is undisturbed.
Asbestos siding is far less dangerous due to the fact that it installed outside and very few fibers are released even when siding shingles crack and break.
These diseases do not develop immediately following exposure to asbestos but appear only after a number of years.
When asbestos containing material is disturbed and improperly handled tiny hazardous fibers are released into the air and may cause lung cancer and other illnesses.
We agree that there are both health and legal hazards in removing asbestos containing materials even cementious ones.
The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause.
Dust hazards from asbestos cement siding or roofing demolition or removal.
Cancer of the lung tissue itself and mesothelioma a cancer of the thin membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs.
There s no known safe level of exposure.
Asbestos workers have increased chances of getting two principal types of cancer.
Care and proper procedures should always be taken during removal and disposal but in general asbestos siding ranks very low on the list of materials that.
Asbestos remediation and removal.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.
Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.
This document series assists building buyers owners or inspectors who need to identify asbestos materials or probable asbestos in buildings by simple visual.
The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.
This article discusses potential asbestos dust hazards from power sawing cement asbestos siding materials.
Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer.
It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground.
Also i recommend against installing new siding over top of the existing asbestos material as the process will damage the latter and cause asbestos fibers to be released.
Deq regulates the handling removal and disposal of asbestos containing material to protect public health and the environment.
Mesothelioma and other cancers as well as asbestosis and other lung diseases are a serious danger after continued long term exposure to fibers from asbestos containing materials acms.
The real safety issue with asbestos is when large amounts of it are removed indoors and proper protocol and equipment is not used to capture and collect all asbestos fibers released.
And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous.