ASBESTOS
What
it is
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals used
in certain products such as building materials and vehicle brakes. It was
a desirable additive to products due to its resistance to heat, its strength
and durability.
Where it can be found
| Many common building materials that you see everyday may contain asbestos. Some of these include floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics (glue) on floor tile and cove base, joint compound, pipe insulation, and fire proofing materials. A more comprehensive list can be found here. |  |
How dangerous is it
| Asbestos fibers are naturally occurring and extremely aerodynamic which means that everyone is exposed to asbestos. To be a significant health concern, asbestos fibers must be inhaled at high concentration over an extended period of time. Asbestos fibers then accumulate in the lungs. As exposure increases, the risk of disease also increases. Therefore, measures to minimize exposure and consequently minimize accumulation of fibers will reduce the risk of adverse health effects |
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Asbestos is only dangerous if it becomes airborne. As long as asbestos containing materials are not damaged, the asbestos fibers do not become airborne and do not pose a health threat the building occupants. During an asbestos survey, inspectors assess the condition of asbestos containing materials. These conditions do deteriorate over time. If you find that an asbestos containing item has been damaged, please contact our office for a hazard assessment.
Asbestos
Diseases
As asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs, several types of diseases may
occur. Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue. This
scarring impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange
gases. This leads to inadequate oxygen intake to the blood. Asbestosis restricts
breathing leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the
airways. It is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to
30 years.
The next type of disease attributed to asbestos exposure is Mesothelioma. It is a cancer of the pleural lining, which is the thin, transparent membrane which covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest walls. It is considered to be exclusively related to asbestos exposure. By the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal. Similar to other asbestos related diseases, mesothelioma has a longer latency period of 30 to 40 years.
Lung Cancer is a malignant tumor of the bronchi covering. The tumor grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. The time between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of lung caner is 20 to 30 years.
It should be noted that there is a synergistic effect between smoking and asbestos exposure, which creates an extreme susceptibility to lung caner. Statistics have shown that cigarette smoking alone increases the risk of lung cancer by a factor of 10 or so; heavy asbestos exposure alone increases the risk of lung cancer by a factor of 5 or so; and the combination of the two independent carcinogens increases the risk factor by about 50 times.
Asbestos
On Campus
Any building constructed before 1980 most likely has some asbestos containing
materials in a few of the building components such as pipe insulation, floor
tile, or other materials where asbestos is commonly found. The presence of
asbestos in a work environment does not pose a health hazard unless it is
in poor condition and becomes airborne.
The list below contains UAF buildings that were either built after 1980 or have been renovated so that the asbestos containing materials have been removed. Although they should not contain any asbestos products, it is still possible that some materials such as mechanical gaskets, contain some asbestos.
UAF
Buildings built after 1980 or have undergone extensive renovation
· Brooks Building
· Butrovich
· Duckering Building, East Wing only
· International Arctic Research Center
· Lathrop hall
· Natural Sciences Facility
· Signers’ Hall
· Student Recreation Center
Asbestos Related Links
OSHA
Asbestos Page
OSHA Asbestos Fact Sheet
USGS
Some Facts About Asbestos
Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry, Asbestos FAQ
Forsyth
County Environmental Affairs Department Asbestos Home Page
Mesothelioma Information and Resource
Group
The Environmental Health & Safety and Risk Management department employs a full-time Industrial Hygienist. If you have any questions, please contact Leah Boback at 474-5812, or by email.
Last updated on 12/23/03 by A.Chism