HOME ASBESTOS REMOVAL

To avoid asbestos contamination from old building materials, home renovation projects require the involvement of a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

October 25, 2010 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says removing asbestos from one’s home should be a homeowner’s last resort because the very act of asbestos removal poses the greatest dangers for asbestos exposure and the subsequent development of dangerous asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

According to federal asbestos laws enforced by the EPA and other government agencies, home renovation or demolition work requires the involvement of asbestos removal companies.

Licensed contractors, many of whom are listed on the Internet, are trained to identify asbestos and recommend the safest procedures for containing or removing the suspected building materials.

Asbestos exposure can occur when homeowners accidentally inhale airborne asbestos fibers while working with or removing asbestos-containing building materials during home remodeling projects.

Avoiding home asbestos exposure

Government health agencies discourage home owners from even making minor home repairs themselves, since improper handling of asbestos-containing materials can create a hazard where none existed.

When asbestos materials are in good condition the health dangers are at a minimum. But if the materials are old, broken or physically damaged, toxic fibers can dislodge from certain building materials, become airborne, and threaten homeowners with potentially lethal incidents of full-blown asbestos exposure.

Human asbestos exposure occurs when airborne fibers are inadvertently inhaled and get embedded in lung tissue, where they can remain for decades before developing into diagnosable tumors.

When an individual is diagnosed with mesothelioma in a late stage of development (which is more often the case, than not), treatment options are very limited and the mesothelioma survival rate is usually restricted to under two years.

U.S. federal agencies have classified asbestos as a substance that causes cancer; these include: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, OSHA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Today, the EPA and OSHA enforce the laws regulating the use and handling of asbestos-containing materials.

Weitz & Luxenberg – For asbestos-injury cases

Thousands of retired workers and homeowners diagnosed with asbestos diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis have filed asbestos claims against employers that failed to provide safety equipment and asbestos product manufacturers who neglected to warn consumers.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we urge you to contact an asbestos cancer attorney at Weitz & Luxenberg for a free appraisal of your case and your eligibility to receive compensation. There is no obligation for this important sharing of information, so take advantage now.