"These suspect materials are found in either a friable (can be crushed or crumbled by hand pressure) or a non-friable state. (EQ State, (c))".
More than 3,000 products in the use today contain asbestos. Some are: pipe and duct insulation, building insulation, wall and ceiling panels, carpet underlays, roofing materials, artificial fireplaces, and patching and spackling compounds. The heaviest exposures that bring the most danger are during maintenance, remodeling, and demolition of an old building or road. That is why construction workers are the ones that are in danger. They deal with the asbestos containing products. Sometimes not realizing the problems they can have from exposing themselves to these materials. A lot of them have no clue that they can put their families at risk, too, from asbestos taken home on workers" clothes or shoes. .
Everyday, construction workers take a risk of getting diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has not determined a safe level of exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) at 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter for an 8 hour time weighted average. "Airborne asbestos fibers are small, odorless, and tasteless. They range in size from .1 to 10 microns in length. Because the fibers are thin and light, they can be suspended in the air for long periods. (EQ state, (b)." The amount of asbestos a worker is exposed to will vary according to several factors: the fiber concentration in the air; the duration of exposure; the worker's breathing rate; the weather conditions; and whether or not protective equipment is worn. .
Asbestos does not cause headaches, sore muscles or other immediate symptoms. The effects often go unnoticed for 15 to 40 years. Asbestosis is a chronic lung illness that slowly progresses. It is caused by the asbestos fibers that are inhaled and trapped in the lung tissue.