Asbestos Attorney Services

Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of the asbestos particles and patients suffer a lot due to this. Harmful effects of asbestos have alerted citizens and workers about their rights and legal instruments available for their protection. The root cause of mesothelioma has been established to be asbestos fibers. Many law services now provide services to avail compensation for life threatening effects of asbestos. Many law firms now have dedicated departments for asbestos cases that provide highly professional and reputed services to workers fighting for compensation.

Many asbestos cases are very difficult to fight, as this disease cannot be detected at an early stage. It is one of the major hurdles in court proceedings as it becomes difficult to establish asbestos as the culprit. Nevertheless, dedicated lawyers who understand the disease, its implications and its outcomes take this as a challenge and try every kind of litigation technique to win such cases.

Specialist lawyers have the necessary experience to offer asbestos law services.

It is essential for customers to find and select a reputed mesothelioma law service. This is because patients of this deadly disease often need to file case against established large companies who have the best legal talent as their fulltime lawyers. Hence it becomes extremely important to fight their case with equally talented law firms. Company lawyers use every possible trick in the book to mislead and misdirect the court and to mask vital information from the judge. An early failure in these types of cases delays the whole justice seeking process hence law firms need to be selected judiciously.

Asbestos attorneys provide a range of services for processing litigations. They design their packages in such a way as to help customers recover all damages and medical expenses in the form of lawsuit compensation. They also make a provision for themselves in the form of certain percentage of the recovered amount as contingency fees.

Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with Asbestos Trial Lawyers.

Asbestos - Dangers and Diseases

Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items made from asbestos were regarded as having an equal value to gold. In fact, it is reputed that Charles the Great, (King of the Franks in the year 768) had a tablecloth made from asbestos. It does have a resistance to fire and heat and has been used over centuries for this practical purpose - from historical uses such as lamp wicks and Egyptian burial shrouds through to modern brake pad linings. It has been used for high temperature wiring insulation as well as in the construction of buildings to insulate and protect against fire.

There are many forms of asbestos but there are three main types, white, brown and blue.

White asbestos: otherwise known as chrysotile is the type preferred in industry. It has a flexible property and has been used in many theatres for fire safety curtains, as well as for firefighter?s protective clothing. Some evidence exists that it is harmful but not as harmful as some other types.

Brown asbestos: also known as amosite, this type usually originates from Africa and is highly bio-hazardous.

Blue asbestos: also known as crocidolite comes from Australia and Africa. This type is believed to be the most dangerous type of asbestos, therefore it is extremely bio-hazardous.

There are other types that someone may come across, some of which include actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos and tremolite asbestos. These are not as commonly used industrially, but may still be found in some products.

The main danger to health from asbestos is from the fibres, which can be inhaled. The four main diseases associated with asbestos fibre inhalation are asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestosis: Caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, generally from heavy exposure. It is defined as lung fibrosis.

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer where cancerous or malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. This is the protective sac that most of the body?s organs are covered with. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura and the peritoneum, which surrounds the lower digestive tract. Around 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma show the patient to have had a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung cancer: For many years now asbestos exposure has been recognised as a high risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is not possible, however, to put a direct number to the amount of cases of lung cancer, which have been caused by asbestos. This is because there are other risk agents that cause the disease, tobacco smoke for instance. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish which risk agent was the cause of a case of lung cancer.

Diffuse pleural thickening: As mentioned previously the pleura is a membrane covering which lines the inside of the rib cage and also surrounds the lungs. If asbestos fibres are inhaled, some may work their way into the pleura and this can lead to scarring and or fibrosis. This may cause the pleura to thicken. The condition will show up on an x-Ray. If this thickening spreads over a large area it may cause a restriction of expansion of the lungs.

It has now become clear that exposure to asbestos can be harmful. Because of this, the use of it has virtually disappeared. If there are products in the home that may contain asbestos, it is advisable to have a professional contractor inspect them. It is a complex process to remove asbestos and should always be done by a qualified person. It can be a highly dangerous and even lethal substance. If in doubt then call someone out.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Asbestos Encasement

The dangers of asbestos have been known for a very long time and even the companies that made billions off of asbestos products have long since given up defending the virtues of asbestos. Unfortunately, there were way too many years between identifying the dangers of asbestos and getting asbestos pulled off the market but finally new asbestos products have been almost universally banned.

The biggest problem with asbestos today is dealing with the past. People still suffer from mesothelioma and other respiratory problems caused by asbestos. Perhaps an even bigger problem is how to deal with the asbestos that is still out there in older buildings, concrete and insulation. For more than half of the 20th century asbestos was used just about anywhere that required insulation. It was just about everywhere out there - and still is.

Of course the public outcry against asbestos called for the immediate removal of all asbestos anywhere people were exposed to the hazard. However, this is often easier said than done. In all too many cases the biggest expense involved in renovating an older building is dealing with asbestos. Often the expense of totally removing asbestos has prevented renovation of older buildings. Demolishing or renovating old buildings used to be easy but not anymore.

For many years asbestos removal was at a stand still. Those companies that could afford to remove asbestos insulation in their buildings had already done so; often at great expense. Those companies with smaller financial resources usually just left their old buildings alone and delayed dealing with the asbestos. Finally in the 1990s governments started to approve alternate ways of dealing with asbestos in buildings.

Currently there are 3 approved ways of dealing with asbestos in older buildings. Removal is still the preferred way, but is very expensive and not entirely without dangers. Simply getting the asbestos out exposes it to people. The trick and expense in asbestos removal is keeping it out of the air and away from people. An additional problem with asbestos removal is you have to install new insulation and fireproofing, usually fiberglass, to replace the asbestos you are removing.

A second way of dealing with asbestos is called encapsulation. This involves actually building a structure around the asbestos so that it is totally contained. In some cases this is a viable option but usually it is almost as expensive as removal. Many buildings cannot handle the extra weight of the encapsulation structure.

The third way of dealing with asbestos is called encasement. With this procedure a special 2-part coating is sprayed over the asbestos totally preventing exposure to the fibers. The first coat is a primer that binds with the asbestos fibers, holds them in place and also prepares the surface for the second coat. The second coat is the sealer that does just that, totally sealing off the asbestos.

Independent testing of encasement has shown that the final surface is completely safe. There are no airborne fibers or other volatile substances coming off the surface. It is totally harmless. In the field, encasement has proven to be more than 50 percent less expensive compared to removal and can be done in half the time and with much less labor expense. The big drawback with encasement is the asbestos is still there but as long as the building isn't changed or demolished the encasement coating renders the asbestos totally harmless.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Quick Information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesotheliomas is a form of cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, that is inflicting countless americans, many of whom are unaware of its presence. Its name is derived because malignant cells originate in the mesothelium, a protective lining that defends most of the body's internal organs. This infliction can occur in the pleura (outer linings of the lung and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart). Most people who develop mesotheloimas do so working on job sites where asbestos particles are heavy in the air, usually due to insulation containing asbestos.

Symptoms of mesotheliomas may not appear until up to 25 years after the initial exposure. Many symptoms of perotoneal mesotheliomas include weight loss, cachexia, abdominal swelling, anemia, and fever. Symptoms of pleural mesotheliomas include chest wall pain, pleural effusion, shortness of breath, or a cough. In severe cases, the person may develop malignant tumors, collapsed lung, abdominal pain, ascites, and problems with bowel functions.

Diagnosing mesotheliomas is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions. A history of asbestos exposure will increase the probability of mesotheliomas, and extensive chest, CAT, or MRI scan can be performed to identify extensive pleural fluid build up. Treatments for mesothelioma include combinational surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and homeopathy. Many cases of mesotheliomas are due to institutional negligence, where asbestos was used in accordance with erroneus safety regulations.

In the United States, many products and industries were and are rife with asbestos fiber. Asbestos is often present in fireproofing, putty, caulk, gaskets, brake pads and shoes, clutch plates, fire blankets, and stage curtains. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos or it is recommended you seek diagnosis.

Bill from http://mesothelioma-laywers-portal.com

Asbestos and Government Coverups

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos...

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos workers. By the 1930?s, the asbestos manufacturers and their insurance companies knew that the asbestos would kill. In 1934, Aetna insurance company published a textbook in which they devoted a full chapter to asbestos, saying that asbestosis was ?incurable and usually results in total permanent disability followed by death.? (Bowker, pg.18)So now armed with this knowledge, by the time World War II started, the risks of asbestos had been recognized and the industry was starting to slide into decline. The war changed all that. The asbestos industry exploded with the massive production to place asbestos in ships. All prior safety knowledge was promptly forgotten and the asbestos industry boomed again.

There is an ?embarrassing? number of documents that surfaced during the many court cases over the years. These prove the asbestos corporations were well aware of the dangers of asbestos and willfully withheld this information from their employees. Scans of the following documents are available to be read on the Asbestos-Think Again website. Excerpts of these documents show:

In a 1949 document, Exxon admitted that asbestos causes lung cancer, silicosis, fibrosis, and erythema.

In a 1958 National Gypsum Memo ? ?We know that you will never lose sight of the fact that perhaps the greatest hazard in your plant is with men handling asbestos. Because just as certain as death and taxes is the fact that if you inhale asbestos dust you get asbestosis.?

A 1969 Travelers Insurance Co. memo states: ?confidentially Johns-Manville has been contaminating the ?hell? out of both the air and the water for quite some time.

?In 1975, an insurance industry memo summarized non-workplace exposure. Forty percent of homemakers and 50% of blue-collar workers had identifiable asbestos fibers in their lungs at death. The author states, ?It is now found (that) the public in general has been exposed to asbestos products to a far greater degree than previously recognized.?

There was no perceptible change in the outlook of companies until the landmark asbestos lawsuit filed in 1969, Borel vs Fibreboard Products Corporation, which was decided in favor of the plaintiff. It was the first time the country recognized a company?s duty to warn their employees about the dangers of asbestos. There were more than 16,000 asbestos/mesothelioma cases filed in the next 10 years.

Marc has been writing about mesothelioma and asbestos related topics for 12 years. His work is published all over the internet.

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (Asbestos Surveys)

(The New Regulation 4; Duty to Manage Asbestos)

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002 place a legal duty on anyone with responsibility for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises and common areas of rented domestic premises to:-

1) Establish whether asbestos is present and where it is located 2) Assume that asbestos is present unless proved otherwise 3) Record all findings and assumptions 4) Monitor the condition of any asbestos 5) Implement plans to manage the risk from any asbestos 6) Provide information to those in contact with Asbestos

FAQs How does asbestos affect my business?

Commercial buildings built before 1999 are recommended to have an asbestos survey. If you own or occupy any non-domestic premises (including all commercial, public or industrial buildings) or domestic premises that have communal parts (e.g. stairwells, liftshafts, corridors), you need to establish and maintain a register of any asbestos containing materials (ACMS).

Do I need to remove any asbestos containing materials (ACMs)? No, not necessarily. The duty is to manage any risk - in many cases it is often left in situ and it's condition is recorded, monitored and managed.

What was the main use of Asbestos in buildings? SPRAYED COATINGS; on steel works, concrete walls and ceilings, for fire protection & insulation. LAGGING; insulation on pipework boilers & ducts INSULATION BOARDS; in partitions, fire doors & ceiling tiles ASBESTOS CEMENT PRODUCTS; sheeting on walls and roofs, tiles, cold water tanks, gutters, pipes & decorative plaster finishes.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who undertakes work on your behalf at your premises such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters and decorators. Even worker's wifes are at risk when cleaning soiled work clothes. "Breathing in Asbestos dust can lead to Asbestos related - diseases" What types of Asbestos are dangerous?

All types of Asbestos have potential to cause lung cancer.

IT ONLY TAKES ONE FIBRE TO KILL so if you require any further information on Asbestos Surveys or any other health and safety issue for free to visit the www.centralsafetyconsultancy.co.uk.

David Cant is a qualified Asbestos consultant who owns his own consultancy practice Central Safety consultancy Service Limited operating throughtout the UK. if you have any questions regarding asbestos or any other health and safety issue you can visit www.centralsafetyconsultancy.co.uk and send an email.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990's.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable.

Conventionally, the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer are treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumours Chemotherapy, on the other hand, uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The aim of these mesothelioma cancer treatments is to prolong the patient's life as the disease cannot be cured in the more advanced stages.

In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope.

Immunotherapy: This form of biological therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment uses the patient's own immune system to attack the cancerous cells. Clinical studies have shown that the immune system is able to distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells, and can therefore be used to destroy those cancerous cells.

Gene Therapy: This form of mesothelioma cancer treatment is very much still in the developmental stages. The process involves injecting a specific gene straight into the tumour. This gene renders the cancer cells sensitive to the antiviral drug glanciclovir which under normal circumstances is not effective against these cells. The glanciclovir is then able to destroy all the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue cells.

Drug Therapy: The drug Alimta is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of patients with malignant mesothelioma lung cancer . This new and exciting drug has been demonstrated in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of patients.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light to destroy cancer cells. The patient first is first administered a photosensitizing drug that only collects in cancerous cells. Fibre-optic cables are then inserted in the body in order to focus light of a certain frequency on the tumour. The light stimulates the photosensitizing drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous cells.

These experimental mesothelioma cancer treatments, although still in the developmental stages, offer cancer victims the prospect of a better and longer life. With the likelihood of an increase in the number of people diagnosed with asbestos cancer, further research into other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment is vital.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. For more information on mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos litigation, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Asbestos Lung Cancer & Side Effects

When a group of cells mutates uncontrollably and starts invading and killing healthy cells, this is called cancer. In certain areas of the body where cells reproduce rapidly there tends to be a greater chance of risk because one cancer cell can multiply exponentially in a very quick period of time. Most cancers are caused by external stimuli and mesothelioma is no different. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

Mesothelioma is an extremely nasty and permanent cancer that infects the membrane surrounding most internal organs. It is also a very subtle form of cancer providing only a few noticeable symptoms until it becomes extremely advanced. The most common type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It causes shortness of breath and/or chronic coughing that can easily be mixed up with allergies or a common cold. In many cases mesothelioma is discovered by accident when patients are looking into these symptoms. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Pleural mesothelioma represents 75% of mesothelioma cases - but it is far from the only type of this deadly cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines, and is just as dangerous and deadly. Common symptoms include:
? Weight loss - but waist may increase in size.
? Pain or swelling in the abdomen - fluid retention or tumor growth.
? Bowel obstruction - blockage in the small or large intestine.
? Anemia - a reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal; this forces the heart and other organs to work harder to get oxygen where it's needed.
? Fever
Usually, the first test run by a doctor will use a device called a thorascope. The procedure is called thorascopy and is done by creating a small incision in the chest, and taking a sample of lung tissue to see if it?s cancerous or not. This procedure is performed at a hospital using local anesthesia and will cause a small amount of pain. There will also be a check for an excess amount of fluid which may be drained to ease the pressure and reduce pain.

If these tests are inconclusive, there will be more advanced test performed such as a Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan to give doctors a 3D X-ray of the tissues. This will allow the doctors to analyze the potentially damaged areas. Another option is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan). An MRI will take cross-section pictures of internal structures to separate healthy tissues from malignant ones. These two scans will allow doctors to be able and see potential dangers long before the patient feels any symptoms.

To learn more about asbestos related diseases, drug therapy for mesothelioma or gene therapy for mesothelioma, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

Asbestos ? From Miracle Mineral To Mesothelioma Menace

During World War II Asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle mineral. Almost anything could be built or manufactured from this mineral. The building and construction industries used it as an additive to strengthen cement and plastics. Asbestos fibers can be separated into thin threads which do not conduct electricity and are not affected by heat or chemicals.

The four main types of asbestos are: Amosite with brown fibers, Anthophyllite with gray fibers, white Christie, and blue Crocidolite. Chrysotile has curly fibers while the other three have rod like fibers. These fibers break into dust quite easily and drift in the air. They can stick on skin, clothing, and can easily be swallowed or inhaled.

Use of asbestos skyrocketed during World War II. Shipbuilding used asbestos extensively in freighters and support vessels to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. Asbestos became the miracle construction material as it was easily obtained, processed, and transported.

After WWII cars used asbestos in break shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos found its way into residential and industrial building materials, water supply, sewage materials, ceiling and floor tiles, and vermiculite garden materials to name a few products.

In the 1970?s the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in several products that could release asbestos fibers into the environment during use, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation. Regulations governing the use of asbestos and concern of public opinion since 1970 have created a significant drop in the use of asbestos in the United States.

In 1989 all new uses of asbestos were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency while any old uses before that year were still permitted. The EPA suggested that schools inspect for damaged asbestos and eliminate any exposure or enclose it in protective barriers. Vermiculite, widely used in horticulture, became a concern of the EPA that recommended outdoor use, limiting the amount of dust used, and keeping vermiculite damp.

Asbestos may create serious health hazards such as coughing, lung damage, shortness of breath, and lung cancer. Most people do not become sick in the early stages of development, but usually need continued exposure, often on jobs such as mining, milling, manufacturing asbestos products, and building construction. Firemen, demolition workers, drywall removers, and any other workers in trades that involve destruction of buildings, ships, and automobiles are also exposed to the hazards and risks of asbestos.

Over a period of years continual exposure to asbestos can cause very serious health problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of carcinoma of the membrane that lines numerous cavities of the body, including the lungs, abdomen and heart, and has been associated with exposure to asbestos dust. In mesothelioma, the cells of the mesothelioma metastasize and damage adjacent organs and tissues.

Risk of developing mesothelioma takes a long period of time, often as long as twenty-five or thirty-five years before full blown symptoms appear. Not all workers who have been exposed will develop diseases caused by asbestos, but workers who have been exposed to it may bring fibers on their clothing, hair, shoes, and skin home to their families. To circumvent this risk, most industries require workers to bathe and change their clothing before they leave work.

Many studies have been conducted involving the risks of diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. The results of one such study involving the risks of smoking and exposure to asbestos proved extremely hazardous.

For further information on asbestos, such as risks, research, lawsuits and disease support groups visit:

http://www.asbestos-headquarters.com

About Asbestos

Everyone that has ever heard of asbestos knows that it is extremely dangerous. Nevertheless, not everyone is familiar with what this toxin is and what kind of precise dangers it poses to those individuals that are exposed. Let's take a look at some of the dangers associated with this hazard below.

Asbestos is actually a mixture of six natural minerals and it can be found in older buildings, older textiles and older plastic products. It is much like fiberglass in consistency and when it is airborne it is extremely dangerous and toxic to humans and animals alike. Asbestos, when airborne can lead to a disease termed, asbestosis - a form of lung cancer. In essence, long term exposure results in the damage of lung tissues which are irreversibly scarred and permanently damaged.

Anyone who has endured long term exposure may begin exhibiting the signs and symptoms frequently associated with asbestosis: severe difficulty breathing, spasmodic coughing fits, and in worse case scenarios, exposure can lead to death. Likewise, gastrointestinal cancer, cancer of the esophagus, mesothelioma, cancer of the intestines, is also a risk for those that are exposed. In addition, exposure to asbestos has also been known to wreak havoc with the human immune system, weakening it to a state where it does not function properly. Clearly, exposure to this natural hazard is extremely dangerous. Yet, what can people do to protect themselves from exposure? No matter where one discovers a source of these minerals, whether they are from old building materials like special cement or other products, it is imperative that they act quickly to have them immediately removed.

There are a number of companies that focus on the removal of this toxic hazard. Testing can be conducted to detect the hazardous material and if the test proves positive it is imperative that the property owner takes measures to ensure its immediate and safe removal.

No one should ever attempt to remove hazardous, toxic material themselves: especially in terms of asbestos. The removal of this particular toxin requires trained professionals who are skilled at handling such poisons. First, the material will need to be wetted to keep the it from becoming airborne and threatening those in the surrounding area. Next, the toxic waste will need to be professionally contained and sealed and removed from the location. Workers will be required to wear special equipment to protect themselves, like respirators, coveralls, rubber boots, eye protection and rubber gloves to prevent the toxins from entering the body.

Further, warning signs will need to be posted during the process of removal. Air conditioning and heating systems cannot be used during the process of removal because doing so would promote the toxin's airborne travel. Likewise, any area being worked will have to be sealed off until the removal process is complete. Finally, all removal work will have to be followed up with a decontamination process. Clearly, the removal of this dangerous toxin is something that is better left to the professionals that are used to handling it.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Asbestos