While winter is almost over for us in Vancouver, the cold weather is likely here to stay for a few more weeks, and many people are still using common winter items. If the items are newly manufactured, they should not contain asbestos, however, if you are still using older tools and items that were made before the 1980s, you may want to be careful when handling them.
Asbestos fibres are virtually indestructible, stable in the environment. If they are of the friable kind, they can also be easily crushed and released in the air. As a result, once released, they main remain the air for a long time.
Naturally, many of the items contain asbestos due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties, which includes fireproof gloves, space heaters. Some holiday decorations used to contain asbestos as well, including artificial snow.
If you suspect that you may have one of these items that have been in use for a long time, it many contain asbestos, and it would be best to dispose them. If an accident occurs and the device is damaged, it may release asbestos in the air without your knowledge. Therefore, it is important to handle them with care, and dispose them as soon as possible.