Asbestos Risk Assessment

Even though asbestos use has been tightly regulated for more than twenty years, it's a mistaken notion that citizens of the United States are never in danger from asbestos exposure. As recently as last month a public building in West Virginia had to be closed in order to safely remove a section of the roof that contained asbestos. The most serious risk is eventually developing mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer.

The fact is, if you are tearing down or remodeling or rehabbing any structure, there can be danger from disturbing old materials that may contain asbestos. Its thin fibers are released into the air when any asbestos-laden material crumbles or is cut, sawed, or knocked down. Those fibers, when breathed or ingested, can penetrate deep into the linings of human organs and usually cannot be adequately cleared out via the body's normal self-cleansing actions.

What does asbestos look like? How about that crumbling old insulation in your basement? Can you make a sure identification yourself? Don't count on it. The only way to protect yourself is hire a qualified expert to perform an asbestos risk assessment. If a company says it will quietly remove asbestos from your home or garage for a cheap price, don't put the health of you and your family at stake.