Generally, people think that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) can be found only in old houses and buildings, but the reality is more complex than that. There are still over 3,000 commercial products containing asbestos and that we use on a daily basis.
The most common products known to include asbestos in their composition are construction materials as followed: • Adhesives (high-performance duct tape) • Attic and wall insulation • Ceilings products (acoustical plaster, ceiling panels, texture, and tiles) • Cement-asbestos board products (chimney flue lining, ducts, pipes, shingles, siding, and wall panels) • Construction mastics • Ductwork connectors and flexible duct connectors • Flooring products (asphalt floor tiles, carpet mastic, coving mastic, floor tile mastic, vapor barriers, vinyl floor tiles, vinyl sheet flooring) • Paints and coatings • Roofing Products • Wall products (decorative plaster, caulking and putties, spackling compounds, vinyl wall coverings, wall penetration packing materials, wallboard joint compound, wallboard or sheetrock)
We can also find other products containing asbestos different from non-construction products such as: • Automotive products (brake linings, brake pads, and clutch plates) • Electrical products (cloth wire insulation, electrical breakers, electrical panel arc chutes, electrical panel partitions, electrical panels, insulating cloth) • Elevator equipment (elevator car brake shoes and equipment panels) • Fire protection products (fireproof spray-on, fire blankets, curtains, and doors) • Heating and cooling system products (boiler insulation, cooling towers, duct work insulation, furnace insulation, gaskets, heat shields, HVAC vibration dampeners, pipe insulation, tank insulation and casings, and thermal taping compounds) • Industrial use products (beverage filters, friction materials) • Laboratory products (heat resistant gloves, laboratory hoods, laboratory tables and countertops, fume hoods and laboratory hoods) • Window glazing
But we assure you that our top ten of common daily use products containing asbestos will impact on you. Take a look:
- Appliance components (coffee pots, toasters, irons, popcorn poppers, and crock pots)
- Books and book bindings (to make them fireproof)
- Bowling balls
- Cigarette filters
- Chalkboards
- Crayons and other children toys
- Gardening products
- Modeling clay
- Table pads
- Talcum powder
It is shocking how our children and ourselves are exposed to asbestos hazards on a regular basis without even knowing. What we know about asbestos is that it is only dangerous when it is disturbed and becomes airborne and is inhaled. The truth is that if asbestos is digested the hazard to the health is the same, provoking decades-later illnesses like mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis. You can protect the health of your family by checking the component materials of any product or by contacting the manufacturer if the label of the product is not clear.
At home or work, if you have a renovation project in mind and are unsure of how to start, you can rely on A&D Demolition and Asbestos Removal experience to handle any situation of demolition and asbestos removal, eliminating any risk of the process. Whether you have the suspicion of having asbestos at your house or business, we are a team of professionals that counts with over 10 years of industry background. Your safety is our number one responsibility, and we offer a quality job at a reasonable price. We take care of every step from demolition to transport and disposal of all waste and hazardous materials. Our experience enables us to do a hassle-free demolition project without any environmental issues. Contact us for a free on-site quote!