Asbestos Exposure and Health Risk

The Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

The greatest health risk, in terms of asbestos, is the inhalation of asbestos fibres. This can occur if asbestos is disturbed by activities such as sanding, cutting, grinding, and sweeping; that is, any activity that is going to cause the fibres to become airborne.

Asbestos Fibres that are a Health Risk

The most dangerous asbestos fibres are very small in size – typically less than 10 microns. They are not visible to the human eye. For example, a room or house could have a very large quantity of asbestos fibres, and thus a very high, but invisible, risk.

Each person reacts in different ways to toxins. The effects of exposure to a hazard depend on the quantity of the toxin to which a person is exposed and for how long. Long exposure times to elevated airborne concentrations are more likely to cause a health risk than short duration low level exposure.

The greatest risk is when there is elevated airborne concentrations of asbestos fibres.

Asbestos Detected on Surfaces – is this a Health Risk?

If asbestos is detected on a surface in a building, it becomes a health risk once it is airborne. This is known as friable material. It is a hazard as it has the potential to become airborne. An air test will identify how much asbestos has become airborne.

Asbestos Contamination – Steps to Improve

If an asbestos test identifies traces of asbestos in a property, the following actions are advised:

• Identify the source of the asbestos fibres and eliminate the possibility of more fibres becoming airborne
• Clean and remove the asbestos – this is restricted work and must be carried out by persons holding a Certificate of Competence
• Air test before the clean up if persons are concerned about their exposure
• Air testing and swabs after the clean up to verify the hazard has been removed

Most domestic vacuum cleaners will not remove these fine fibres; they are likely to capture the larger fibres and put the fine fibres into the airborne phase. A commercial vacuum cleaner with a rated filter for removing fine particulate should remove the dangerous fibres.

Asbestos Testing

Routine methods used for asbestos air testing take into consideration the number, size, and shape of the fibres.

The composition of the fibres is not considered. A test can be carried out that specifically identifies if the fibres are asbestos. This test takes a lot more time to carry out and is more expensive.

Asbestos Awareness Training

When a property has asbestos and people are working in the area, it is recommended that they be trained on the asbestos hazards. An asbestos awareness training course is offered by K2 Environmental.  This can be carried out at your workplace or at our offices.

K2 Environmental Testing For Asbestos

Courses are typically presented to meet the needs of the students. They have a mixture of hands-on practical demonstrations and theory, and their durations range from one hour to multiple days depending on the level of knowledge required.