Visit us anytime at https://www.asbestosclaims.law/. Could a fire in a building with asbestos expose people nearby to asbestos?
Very Possibly.
Asbestos fibers are famous for being highly resistant to heat, and most will not burn in a standard house fire.
Asbestos fibers can also become easily airborne, especially when asbestos-containing materials are damaged, as in a fire.
They are light and can easily be carried by hot air and smoke.
As with any building fire, you should exercise caution and contact the authorities.
But if the building is old, you should take steps not to breathe in the ash and smoke emitting from the building – for many health reasons, including minimizing your exposure to asbestos fibers.
Fires in asbestos-containing buildings can spread asbestos fibers via heat and smoke.
Once called a “miracle mineral,” asbestos’s long, thin, and flexible fibers make it naturally resilient and easy to incorporate into a variety of common products.
Although people have sought out asbestos for thousands of years, it only became a mainstay of American industry in the early 20th century.
With urbanization at its peak and millions of people moving into cities, manufacturers turned to asbestos to meet a growing need for inexpensive but durable construction materials.
Asbestos was used to fireproof buildings, but a fire can spread asbestos fibers and cause health problems if inhaled or swallowed.
Unlike wood or plaster, asbestos seemed to stand the test of time—it was impervious to corrosion, incredibly strong, and capable of surviving all but the most devastating of fires.
Beginning in the 1970s, the federal Environmental Protection Agency began restricting how, where, and when asbestos could be used, eventually banning most commercial uses of asbestos in 1989.
Asbestos exposure is a concern around building renovations, construction and demolition.
New construction work, routine renovations, and even catastrophic events such as fires could disperse asbestos particles into the atmosphere, exposing neighboring homes and communities to microscopic mineral fibers that are anything but miraculous.
Asbestos and Home Fires
The federal government instructs property owners to presume that asbestos is present in nay building that was constructed before the early 1980s.
Asbestos that is safely contained in a non-fibrous condition (called ‘non-friable’) – for example asbestos in cement – generally poses less of a threat to human health.
However, asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs, often release toxic dust when they are crumbled, torn, or otherwise damaged.
Any change in the composition of an ACM could send asbestos fibers airborne, contaminating surfaces and materials that would have otherwise been safe.
Clean-Up Activities Pose the Biggest Risk of Asbestos Exposure
If a nearby asbestos-containing property has caught fire, call 9-1-1, seek shelter, and move yourself to safety as soon as possible.
While a fire could send burnt asbestos-containing materials into the atmosphere, the risk immediately after a structural fire is usually somewhat low.
Conversely, environmental levels of ACMs may rise during clean-up activities, as first responders sift through rubble and construction crews work to rehabilitate a damaged or destroyed property.
Before venturing outside, you should always ask the fire department for advice.
Since even fully-outfitted firefighters cannot always keep themselves safe from mesothelioma, you should stay indoors—with your doors and windows shut—until the fire department says it is safe to come outside.
If you have to go outdoors during a building fire containing asbestos fibers, you could protect yourself by:
Avoiding contaminated areas.
Wearing protective clothing.
Exercising extreme caution.
Staying informed.
If you live near an asbestos-affected structure, retain contact with the fire department and ask your local health department if they have created an asbestos mitigation plan.
Are You At Risk for an Asbestos Illness?
Scientists believe there is no “safe” level of asbestos exposure.
Anyone who is exposed to a significant amount of asbestos—in the workplace, at home, or after a catastrophe—could develop an asbestos-related illness later in life.
\However, most asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma, are diagnosed in persons who spent years working with and around asbestos.
Typically, a short-duration exposure to asbestos is unlikely to present any long-term health consequences.
If you, or a loved one, begin experiencing the symptoms of an asbestos-related condition, contact a physician immediately.
http://www.AsbestosClaims.law is your comprehensive resource for all things asbestos. We hope this information helps you.
