ASBESTOS TAPE UPDATE

Disposing old asbestos tape from the home can be a hazardous procedure

If you plan to renovate or remodel your home, it is important to consult an asbestos contractor skilled in identifying asbestos and disposing asbestos materials (like insulation and asbestos tape) according to legal and environmental guidelines.

FACTS ABOUT ASBESTOS TAPE

May 13, 2010 – Old asbestos tape, once commonly used by electricians to seal an electrical connection, is typically white in color, contains up to 80 percent asbestos, and is identifiable by its intricately woven fibers.

Homeowners may find old asbestos tape in their basements, around old furnaces and plumbing ducts. Health dangers occur when asbestos tape deteriorates and becomes dry and brittle, a condition that is likely to dislodge minute toxic asbestos fibers into the air.

The tape is not dangerous unless the fibers become airborne. Asbestos exposure occurs when workers inhale airborne asbestos fibers, a situation that can lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma – the signature asbestos-related cancer that is diagnosed in 3,000 people every year in the United States.

Tale of the asbestos tape

Asbestos tape is still manufactured and sold in certain countries today, including China. The varieties produced today are called dust-free tapes because they allegedly create minimal exposure hazards. But, according to the U.S. Environmental Agency, there is no safe minimum level for asbestos exposure.

A safe replacement for asbestos tape is duct tape, that sticky gray tape that everyone has come to recognize. Duct tape got its name because it was intended to be used for taping various kinds of ducts, especially those used for heating.

Asbestos tape disposal

Disposal of old asbestos tape in the home or workplace can be hazardous. Under state and federal law today, removing or replacing asbestos tape, no matter what condition it’s in, is a serious job that should be done by any one of the many asbestos abatement companies in your area.

Legal options

If you have worked with asbestos tape, or any asbestos-containing building materials in the past, and you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, please use the communication form at left for a free appraisal of your case and eligibility to receive compensation.

We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you and your family receive the maximum amount you are entitled to. Please know, there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or settlement in your favor.