ASBESTOS ATTIC INSULATION

Homeowners should not toy with asbestos attic insulation, the EPA advises

Weitz & Luxenberg specializes in asbestos-injury litigation. Our firm is known in the legal community and throughout the nation for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements for home owners who have fallen ill from asbestos exposure caused by attic insulation.

ASBESTOS ATTIC INSULATION

June 11, 2010 – If you suspect you have asbestos insulation in your attic, the safest thing to do is to leave it alone. Though asbestos makes a fine insulation material given its superior resistance to temperature changes, electricity and fire, asbestos is a toxic substance that causes cancer and is responsible for nearly 90,000 deaths worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization.

Any disturbance to asbestos attic insulation can release asbestos fibers into the air, creating a serious health hazard, especially in a confined space like a home attic.

Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers is the most common way asbestos exposure occurs. Approximately 10,000 people die of asbestos exposure every year in the United States, after being diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Despite these asbestos mortality statistics, asbestos disease is preventable.

Dealing with asbestos attic insulation

If you decide to remove asbestos attic insulation, or are planning a home renovation project near the material in question, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you consult a licensed contractor from an asbestos abatement company to help in identifying asbestos.

If you suspect you have asbestos attic insulation in your home, the EPA recommends limiting the number of trips you make to your attic and shortening the length of those trips to limit any potential for exposure.

The EPA further advises:

• Assume that the suspected material contains asbestos, until a professional from an asbestos abatement company determines otherwise;
• You should not store boxes or other items in your attic if retrieving the material will disturb the insulation;
• Children should not be allowed to play in an attic with open areas of asbestos attic insulation;
• If you plan to conduct renovations that might disturb the insulation, hire professionals trained and certified in disposing asbestos;
• By law, you should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals to safely remove the material.

Legal options

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos disease, let a seasoned asbestos cancer attorney help you make informed decisions during this difficult time. Please know, we will pursue the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.

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