Healthy Homes

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used in a variety of household and building materials. It has been shown to cause lung and stomach cancer in people exposed to its microscopic fibers. Asbestos, when disturbed, is easily inhaled and ingested. Once inhaled, the tiny fibers stay lodged inside your body tissue, increasing your chance of developing serious illnesses. Experts say no level of exposure to asbestos is safe.

Asbestos has been used in products for fire protection, insulation, and increased strength. Asbestos can be found in various types of:

Vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring,
patching compounds and textured paints,   
ceiling acoustical material,
stove and furnace insulations and door gaskets,
pipe insulation,
wall and ceiling insulations,
and roofing, shingles and siding.

Use of asbestos in building materials was common between the 1920's and 1980's. It's use has declined since the 1970's. However, a phased-in ban by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of most asbestos products did not culminate until 1996.

NEVER remove or repair asbestos-containing materials yourself! Dangerous asbestos fibers are released into the air when the material is banged, rubbed, handled or taken apart. It is especially important that you do not dust, sweep or vacuum particles suspected of containing asbestos. The EPA insists that, for your safety, this should only be done by trained asbestos contractors. If you think your home may contain asbestos-based products, contact Healthy Homes for an evaluation. Please review the standards and warnings for removing Asbestos yourself or hiring a Contractor that doesn't follow EPA guidelines.  "Hiring an Asbestos Removal Contractor" .

Home Oweners/Renters/New Buyers !!.... Don't assume that your remodeling - tile removal, plaster walls, furnace replacement is safe and easy. Protect your family, get it tested, call for an inspection. Don't put your family at risk!!.

The EPA provides the following list of questions for selecting an asbestos removal contractor. We will always answer YES to each of these questions!

• Are you certified? (ask to see the certificate)
• Have you and your workers been trained?
• Do you have experience removing asbestos from homes?
• Will you provide a list of references of people for whom you have worked with asbestos?
• Will you provide a list of places where you have worked with asbestos?
• Will you use the "wet method" (water and detergent)?
• Will you use polyethylene plastic barriers to contain dust?
• Will you use a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner?
• Will your workers wear approved respirators?
• Will you properly dispose of the asbestos and leave the site free of asbestos dust and debris?
• Will the contractor provide a written contract specifying these procedures?

Review the "Legal Liability and Asbestos Removal".

Click here to request a Vermiculite Brochure or a Karmanos Institute Brochure.

Asbestos Alert: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning homeowners who may have Zonolite Attic Insulation in their homes to only disturb the insulation if they have hired professionals to perform the job. Zonolite Insulation was a do-it-yourself insulation material manufactured and sold between 1963 and 1984. The EPA believes Zonolite may contain unsafe levels of asbestos. Approximately 940,000 U.S. homes contain this type of insulation. Asbestos should only be removed by trained professionals. Zonolite insulation is brownish-silver and comes in accordion shaped chips. If your home contains this type of insulation, contact Healthy Homes for help.