Full Measure:
It used to be called “The Magic Mineral.” The strange, fire-resistant fibers known as “asbestos” that are found in natural rock. By now, most people know asbestos has proven to be a major health hazard. The World Health Organization says half of workplace cancers worldwide are caused by asbestos. And several thousand deaths each year are attributed to asbestos in the home. So you might be surprised to learn that asbestos still being used in many products today, including in our houses. That’s today’s cover story.
Last year, Martin Connell and his family bought their very first home— in Boynton Beach, Florida. The day after they closed the deal on the house, a contractor they hired for renovations bore bad news.
Connell: He took one look at the ceiling and said, It’s going to have asbestos.
Sharyl Attkisson: It was like a popcorn ceiling?
Connell: Yeah, with the spray-on popcorn. So he took a sample, called us back a few hours later, and said, It tested positive. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do for you.
More tests found more asbestos.
Sharyl: The house was covered with it?
Connell: Yeah. So they had to come in and they had to take out every piece of drywall. Everything had to come down. The bathrooms basically are demolished, a lot of the AC work got damaged during it. All the insulation had to come out.
Sharyl: But you did a home inspection and it didn’t turn that up?
Connell: Correct. Here in the state of Florida, the asbestos inspection is not part of a pre-real estate purchase inspection.
Sharyl: And you’re a firefighter, and you didn’t have any idea about that?
Connell: Nobody seems to have any idea about it. The contractors that I’m talking to, they have no idea about it. I was calling Senator’s offices, Congresswomen and men’s offices, nobody had any clue that asbestos is still here in Florida, that contractors are allowed to build with it here in Florida.
This is more than the story of one family’s disaster. It turns out a hodgepodge of laws and regulations across the country mean many homeowners could find themselves in the very same boat. Like a lot of Americans, the Connells thought asbestos had been banned—years ago. So what happened? MORE
This lack of a law obviously needs to be addressed, my Grandpa died of Lung Cancer from Asbestos when I was just 4 years old. He was the Head Janitor for San Diego City Schools and the Supply wherehouse was laoded with it. Ten years later we learned why he’d goteen Lung issues having never smoked.
My Uncle Bill used to chain-smoke Kent Cigarettes with the Micronite filters! Micronite was asbestos. Uncle Bill is no longer with us.
Silica is today’s version of asbestos. It is in every piece of concrete ever made!
Haven’t you heard the strip mall lawyers advertising during afternoon TV shows? – silicosis?
I had a CT scan on the 27th. A consult with a Lung Doctor and Nurse navigator/ Cancer care manager on the 2nd. A PET scan on the 3rd. This coming week a biopsy to determine what type of cancer. Thing is, I done this to myself. 40+ years of smoking along with working construction, and never wearing a dust mask, so I can’t kick about it. But people, through no fault of their own, are getting sick. It’s disgusting, and should be criminal. You can bet your ass the people who manufacture this shit aren’t living with it.
Sorry to hear that, cfm990.
I’ll be praying for you.
Thanks MJA. I can use all the prayers that I can get.
ASBESTOS KILLED STEVE MCQUEEN AT 50 – I KNOW I’M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, BUT DON’T TRUST YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!!
Got outrageous bids to replace 60 year old oil furnace and ducting containing asbestos. Contractors explained they had to moonsuit all employees, constantly vacuum entire site, wash and sterilize entire basement after removal, send asbestos to very expensive gummit certified disposal site, accept liability for designated numer of years, and purchase a job specific insurance policy. Called radical left wing do-gooders at City Hall to whine. Was told that if I wanted, I could legally do the job myself and take everything to the dump.
My dad was a pipe coverer and worked with asbestos for 37 years. He died of lung cancer in 1988. He also smoked for much of his life. Of course, my mom did his laundry and would shake out his coveralls before washing them. My brother told me I came home from the hospital in a car full of asbestos.
It’s not nearly as dangerous if it’s not disturbed. It’s when they start tearing up walls and such that it’s so much of a hazard.
Jugeroybean MAY 6, 2018 AT 10:07 PM
What state are you in sir???
I have a pair of asbestos mechanic’s glove. Or, I should say, I used to own a pair of asbestos gloves.
You guys should see the card they were attached to. According to that card, these asbestos gloves were simply the BEST purchase YOU have made in decades. “They are impervious to heat, and flame! No more burns from hot exhausts… welding and cutting processes are now easy and efficient!”
And we all remember asbestos house siding, and the little floor tiles made of the crap, and the pipe cladding.
worked in & around asbestos for 10 years as a construction electrician. worked 24 years as a E/M Technician & Instrumentation Technician, constantly working around asbestos insulation, asbestos wiring, asbestos boiler & furnace linings. in the latter jobs, after the dangers of asbestos was known (about 10 years in) we had to don the full moon suits, seal off all areas of work & go through health testing every year. shit’s nasty … like fiberglass … only one employee, that I know of (worked w/ him for 16 years) came back positive for possible asbestos infestation … saw him last year … he’s retiring from working at Perdue chicken rendering plant this year & is doing fine…. so far
had more problems w/ electrocution or arc flash than anything … ever get burned w/out any flame? …. absolutely freaky
… not to denigrate all those that became infected w/ asbestosis … we were just lucky, I guess …. so far …..
feel for you LadyGun …. pipe insulators breathed that crap every day
@ cfm990
You are in my prayers as of right now.
Most asbestos in homes is locked up in its matrix (plaster, wallboard, etc.). Keep it in place and you won’t have a problem. You are probably more at risk inhaling asbestos dust walking past your wheel wells.
I don’t know if researchers have quantified the risk of occasional short-term exposure. Most, if not all, studies have involved those who were exposed to asbestos on a daily or frequent basis. Proving causation for occasional or one-time exposure would be nearly impossible without a biopsy or autopsy.
Any fine particulate that does not decompose, worse if it has sharp edges or points, or contains a chemical irritant, can be a risk.
When I was putting in an addition, the mud applicators didn’t wear masks. I insisted that they wear a mask (I supplied them) and I kept a shop-vac running while the dust was in the air (you might be surprised how much dust can be collected that way).
cfm990
Prayers for you
I’m a little concerned with my exposure to asbestos in the brake pads of the draw works on a drilling rig. I remember thinking about the potential problems, but I was in my early 20’s with a good job. Heck, when you are young you take things for granted.
23 years in an old fossil-fired power plant, I’ve inhaled more than my share of asbestos, fly ash, and coal dust. As a former smoker, I’m just kind of waiting for my number to come up someday.