Asbestos - what's the big deal?

Homes and structures built decades ago often had components made of asbestos - a mineral that was used due to its characteristic strength and resistance.  Asbestos was also fancied as it didn’t add significant weight to the materials. However, the conspicuous rise in asbestos-related deaths led to restrictions in the use of Asbestos, and in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency firmly established the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule.

This was important as it became obvious that inhaled Asbestos powder and strands can stall lung processes and result in scarring of sensitive tissues. The risk of Asbestos containing material was brought to the fore in 1918, when a report by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics informed a startling rise in mortality rate of individuals regularly exposed to Asbestos. Since these individuals were often mineworkers, development specialists and shipyard laborers, it soon emerged that Asbestos materials were subtly responsible for this trend. However, significant efforts to control and manage Asbestos were not recorded until the 1970’s, when the link between lung-related conditions and Asbestos exposure was solidly established.
According to MKM Environmental, the hazards of Asbestos are so serious that it is vital people are aware of their surroundings when doing construction and refurbishment work and must have the site inspected as per the regulations. 

Asbestosis is used to collectively refer to diseases caused by exposure to Asbestos. While it was not uncommon for some individuals to report no significant lung damage, serious conditions of Asbestosis led to shortness of breath and hacking. Extended exposure to Asbestos additionally led to Mesothelioma - a type of malignant lung tumor. The spread of Asbestosis was also facilitated by unpremeditated transfer of asbestos fibers from the workplace to homes as the filaments clung to garments.  In 1991, after a court case - Corrosion Proof Fittings v. the Environmental Protection Agency, the total disuse of this harmful mineral was rescinded. However, laws are still in place to check the use of Asbestos in homes to safeguard residents. 
NEW YORK ASBESTOS LAWS

To prevent residents from inhaling residual filaments of Asbestos in old homes, New York Laws demand that homes and structures containing Asbestos materials be inspected and certified by professional before any work is done. The inspector is also required to fill and submit an ACP5 form during the process.

 Even when asbestos abatement is being carried out it is vital that air quality sampling is done throughout.

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