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Asbestos – Asbestos is a natural mineral that is extremely durable and resistant to fire, most chemical reactions and break downs. These properties were the main reason asbestos was used in many commercial and industrial building products. There are 6 naturally occurring minerals of asbestos fibers:

1. Chrysotile

2. Crocidolite

3. Amosite

4. Anthophyllite

5. Tremolite

6. Actinolite

Asbestos can be present in any building materials  other than wood, glass, metal or fiberglass (ex. floor tile, siding,  drywall systems, roofing materials, etc.)

The best way to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) is to have the materials tested by an accredited laboratory.  

Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risks from asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. The most common diseases associated with asbestos exposure are:

• Lung Cancer – growth of abnormal cells in the lungs
• Mesothelioma – cancer in the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity
• Asbestosis – fibrotic scaring of the lungs, reduces lung capacity
   

*The symptoms of these diseases typically do not appear until 15-40 years after exposure

Building materials other than wood, glass, metal and fiberglass should be tested, or assumed to contain asbestos. Testing materials before the renovation project begins is a prudent step to ensure ACMs are not disturbed resulting in a potential asbestos fiber release.

The age of the home impacts the likelihood that ACMs may be present; however, there is no cut off date that ensures building materials won't contain asbestos.  For example, a building constructed in the 1960's is much more likely to have ACMs versus a building constructed in the 2000's.  However, the United States imports building materials from around the world and not all countries have restricted the use of asbestos in their materials.

Sampling for airborne asbestos fibers is most commonly performed after an asbestos abatement project.  Sampling is conducted with the engineering controls in place (e.g. containment barriers, negative air machines, etc.).   These engineering controls are removed after the sampling has confirmed acceptable levels of airborne asbestos fibers are present.  

The state of Wisconsin (unlike many other states) allows asbestos abatement contractors to perform their own air sampling following an abatement project (clearance sampling).   Many people see this as a potential conflict-of-interest and request that the clearance sampling be performed by a 3rd party consultant, such as IAQ Diagnostics.  

Sampling for airborne asbestos fibers is also often requested after an ACM has been accidentally disturbed, or after a renovation project in which the homeowner learns that the contractor failed to test building materials prior to the project.    

Vermiculite in a mineral what was used to insulate walls and attics in some older homes.   Some (not all) vermiculite was contaminated with asbestos during the mining process.   However, testing vermiculite to determine if it contains asbestos is difficult and can give inconsistent results.  For that reason, the Wisconsin Department of Health has determined that all vermiculite should be treated as an asbestos containing material regardless of whether sampling showed no asbestos content.  

Vermiculite that will be disturbed as part of a renovation project should be removed by a certified asbestos abatement contractor.  

Homeowners may be able to file a claim with the Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust to redeem some of the abatement cost.  

Samples analyzed via PLM frequently are determined to contain “trace” amounts of asbestos usually reported as less than (<) 1% asbestos.  Point count analysis can be employed to more accurately determine the percent of asbestos that is in the material being sampled.  Any sample determined to contain less than 1% asbestos must be point counted to prove it contains less than 1%.   Otherwise, it is assumed to be positive regardless of the PLM results.   

Typical materials that are candidates for point count analysis include drywall-joint compound, ceiling or wall texture, hard plaster, etc.  The main purpose of point counting a material is to find out if it contains less than 1% asbestos since anything 1% or less is legally considered “non-asbestos containing.”  If point counting is not used, many materials could be mistakenly considered to contain more than 1% asbestos.  This could lead to an expensive asbestos remediation project that could otherwise be avoided.