IDENTIFYING ASBESTOS

Identifying asbestos requires a qualified professional

Take precautions in identifying asbestos.

April 28, 2010 – The best way for identifying asbestos-containing materials, if they are not already labeled, is to have them sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional.

Notably, inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can result in asbestos exposure and lead to fatal diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Taking samples yourself is not recommended because, if fibers are dislodged and become airborne, there is the risk of asbestos exposure. If done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.

If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. If the suspected material is in good condition, chances are it will not be harmful.

Asbestos material that crumbles easily (friable), or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is likely to emit microscopic fibers into the air.

Identifying suspected asbestos material that is old, frayed, damaged, or disturbed is important, and should be done only by a professional.

In identifying asbestos, do not attempt to separate a sample on your own!

Identifying asbestos

Despite the fatal health consequences associated with asbestos exposure, asbestos is still imported and used in the United States for its insulation properties.

Medical sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.

This disease is most often the result of industrial workplace exposure to asbestos – and usually contracted through employers’ preference for profits at the expense of worker health safety.

Weitz & Luxenberg, champion to injured American workers

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of workers for 25 years – longer than most law firms in the nation. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a FREE legal consultation, please notify us through the communication form at left.

There is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or settlement in your favor.