California Officials Warn Returning Homeowners About Asbestos

California Officials Warn Returning Homeowners on Asbestos

In California, where the Santa Barbara wildfire has burnt more than 8,700 acres (or 13 square miles), destroyed 78 homes and damaged 22 others, officials are warning returning homeowners to be aware of the dangers of asbestos.

The fire is still not under control, and windy weather threatens an additional 145 homes, but in the areas where the fire has been contained homeowners are urged to follow some simple safety precautions regarding damaged structures.

First, warn safety officials, homes built before 1980 likely contain asbestos, either as insulation, soft flooring, flooring adhesives, or acoustical ceiling tiles.

This asbestos, which is also likely loose or even airborne as a result of fire damage and high winds, can cause a number of illnesses, including asbestosis, cancers of the digestive tract, and mesothelioma - a particularly lethal form of cancer which invades mesothelial tissues in the lung and abdomen, lies dormant for decades and then explodes into essentially incurable tumors. Once diagnosed, mesothelioma sufferers are rarely given more than a year to live.

Santa Barbara-area residents returning to clean up property or rescue salvageable items from fires should wear protective glasses or goggles, shoe coverings and gloves, officials say, and those working around structures that may contain asbestos, based on their age, should remove outer clothing and store it in plastic bags before going back to motels, hotels, or other locations where they receive temporary shelter, to prevent further contamination.

Removed clothing should not be washed with other clothing, as this will simply spread the asbestos, and shoes, watches and other such items should be carefully dusted for potential debris.

For those working within damaged structures known or suspected to contain asbestos, safety officials also recommend masks. These nose-and-mouth coverings, commonly rated N95 or P100, can be found at hardware and home repair stores. Lacking a mask, residents and others are advised to cover their noses and mouths with damp cloths.

Where structures are older than 1970, or where asbestos is known to be present, homeowners should hire a certified asbestos consultant to examine the premises and identify sources of asbestos, as well as conduct air quality tests.

If asbestos is identified, homeowners should then hire a certified asbestos remediation specialist, or licensed remediation firm, to remove any asbestos before tackling renovation to make the house habitable again. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cautions homeowners not to hire the same individual or entity to do both inspection and remediation, as this can potentially create a conflict of interest, lead to poor-quality work, and inflate the cost of the project.

Homeowners who are determined to do the repairs themselves are advised to wet all potential asbestos-containing materials thoroughly to prevent particles being dispersed into the air. They should also wear P100 respirators equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters- which can be identified by their purple or magenta color, as well as gloves and shoe coverings. They are also cautioned to follow the clothing rule (bag and clean separately) each and every day they are involved in repair and remodeling. Anything less exposes not only the remodeler but his (or her) family to a potentially lethal, disease-causing agent. In fact, to avoid contaminating home and commercial laundry systems, remodelers should simply wear the same outer clothing over and over until the repairs are complete, and then dispose of it.

Homeowners should also prevent children and pets from entering the premises until either the residence is certified asbestos-free via air quality tests, or until remediation by a licensed firm is completed. Mesothelioma is not confined to humans, though its occurrence among animals is much less common.

As a final step to insure a lifetime of good air quality, homeowners should replace damaged materials inside and outside their homes with environmentally-friendly alternatives like cellulose in place of fiberglass insulation, cotton or wool fabrics in place of synthetics on furniture, windows or floors, and cork, linoleum or bamboo instead of vinyl on kitchen and bath floors.

Sources: TransWorldNews and Duluth News Tribune

To receive a FREE Mesothelioma Web information packet** or to make a request, please fill out the following form :

**For a FREE information packet including treatments, clinical trials, and specialists, please complete the form above or call a Mesothelioma Web coordinator at 1-877-367-6376.

News

Resources

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376