Asbestos is a tiny, fire-resistant fiber—a bundle of 600 equals the thickness of a human hair. It was used widely over the years on products and building materials to make them safer and stronger. Asbestos fibers were usually bundled together with other materials to keep them from being released into the air. Asbestos was used in insulation, carpet underlay, wall and ceiling panels, furnaces, and electrical wires, as well as hair dryers, toasters, and pot holders.
Asbestos fibers are considered safe when they stay bundled, but if a product is disturbed and the fibers are released, the asbestos can be seriously hazardous to your health. Breathing asbestos fibers can cause a scarring of the lungs, heart failure, and cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been involved in banning asbestos since the 1970s, yet many buildings still contain asbestos, including schools and other public institutions. As a result, asbestos abatement services have evolved to remove or repair asbestos materials in buildings.
Asbestos experts continue to study the best ways to treat or remove asbestos from buildings and to provide further protection for those who work closely with asbestos. Removal is often a last resort, and any errors in the process can create problems where they didn't exist before. For this reason, scientists hope to develop ways to eliminate hazards without actual asbestos removal.
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