Asbestos a problem if removed incorrectly

Asbestos, an incombustible material especially used in buildings for fireproofing walls and electrical insulation, doesn’t necessarily have to be removed. Asbestos, a carcinogen, becomes a problem only when fibers are released into the air, sources said. And when asbestos is removed, fibers are frequently set free.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks. Several types of asbestos fibers exist, all of which are lightweight, fire resistant and not easily destroyed by natural processes. Between 1900 and 1979, sources said, an estimated 30 million tons of asbestos were installed in commercial, industrial and private buildings.

When the fibers of asbestos are released into the air and if they’re inhaled, the results can be deadly. And the fibers aren’t always visible. About 600 asbestos fibers bundled together, experts said, equal the thickness of one human hair.

The symptoms of asbestos damage to a human usually won’t appear for 20 years or more after first exposure. The fibers in the air become embedded in the lungs and the body has no way of getting rid of them and therefore they remain.

The results are mesothelioma, a cancer of the pleural lining that usually, when diagnosed, is already too late and fatal, and lung cancer. A tumor grows over the bronchi covering and often obstructs air passage.

Additionally, a synergistic effect takes place, experts said, between smoking and asbestos exposure, which creates an extreme susceptibility to lung cancer.

But if asbestos exists in a building, it can be removed. The problem, though, is that the removal can release the dangerous fibers, especially if done incorrectly.

"The best thing to do is leave it alone," said field inspector Travis Jones of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

But if your home has termites, ceiling leaks or deterioration, Jones said, you might want to inspect for asbestos leakage.

It’s incorrect that a city or county must be involved when asbestos is removed, according to Jones.

"You as a homeowner can do the work," Jones said, "but we don’t recommend it. And there’s also an issue of transportation and the right landfill to go to."

Residents can learn the procedures for asbestos removal on the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Website.

Log onto www.vcapcd.org and search for asbestos.

If you’re going to pay someone to remove asbestos, sources said, you must hire a certified asbestos contractor.

For those who are neighbors to someone removing asbestos, sources said, you’re safe as long as containment areas are functioning while removal procedures are underway so that fibers aren’t released. Poly sheeting (fastened together with duct tape) must be used to encase the interior of the structure, sources said.

Additionally, little areas should be built off the side of the structure at an entrance point. And those areas should be secured with poly sheeting like the interior. This space is utilized as a work area and is a necessary step so that the work stays separate from the building.

The asbestos removal process involves wetting down all the home’s surfaces. Once asbestos is wet, Jones said, the particles–for the most part–can’t escape.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for particles to escape, according to Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Inspector Jay Nicholas. But it’s unlikely.

The fact of the matter is, Nicholas said, Southern Californians breathe in asbestos every day. Asbestos is in the ambient air here. But it’s a very low concentration, he said, and not enough to be dangerous.

Many safety precautions are necessary to remove asbestos, experts said, and it’s a lot of work and not 100 percent safe if done improperly. But if done properly, you shouldn’t have a problem.

For more information, log onto to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Website listed above.