01.家中石棉的危险
Why Is Asbestos in the Home Dangerous?
Asbestos materials in the home may become worn or damaged over time. Disturbing these materials can cause microscopic asbestos fibers to become airborne. People may unknowingly release asbestos fibers during home maintenance or renovation projects. Anyone in the home is then at risk of inhaling and/or ingesting the fibers.
Exposure to asbestos is linked to several diseases, includingmalignant mesothelioma。
Exposure to asbestos in the home may cause:
Preventing asbestos exposure, in the home or on thejobsite, is the best way to prevent asbestos-related diseases.
When Was Asbestos Used in the Home?
Before the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in thousands of consumer products and building materials.
根据the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 30 million tons of asbestos were used between 1900 and 1980. Some of these past uses are still in materials and products people may come into contact with today.
There is less asbestos risk in newer homes. Although asbestos is not fully banned in the United States, newer homes typically were not built with asbestos-containing materials. Homes built after 1980 are less likely to contain asbestos. However, stockpiles of asbestos-containing materials may have been used into the 1990s.
02.在家中的石棉在哪里
Where to Find Asbestos in the Home
Asbestos-containing materials may be found in all areas of the home. From the 1930s through the 1970s,asbestos was included in building materials。它也被整合到了许多asbestos-containing vinyl products。The mineral was popular because of its durability and resistance to heat and chemicals.
长时间暴露于热量的建筑材料通常含有石棉。
Asbestos products were also used as:
- An insulator in electrical products
- Soundproofing
石棉在1980年代之前的多种用途使许多石棉暴露在家中的危险。
How to Identify Asbestos in the Home
无法识别asbestos-containing materials用肉眼。但是，有一些石棉房主可以寻找的迹象。这些线索可能会暗示某些产品中矿物质的存在。
例如，越大的房屋是在建造过程中使用的石棉材料的可能性越大。家s built before 1980 should be assumed to contain the mineral somewhere。Newer homes are less likely to contain asbestos products.
Check Surplus Materials for Labels Identifying Asbestos
Without testing done by an asbestos professional, it can be very difficult to identify asbestos products at home. However, it may be possible to identify asbestos-containing materials through packaging.
家owners may be able to safely inspect packages of leftover home construction materials for labels signifying the products contain asbestos.
例如，备用乙烯基地板瓷砖的备用盒可能在盒子上或瓷砖的背面上有邮票，其中含有它们包含石棉的邮票。包装上包含的日期还可能表明它们是在石棉使用高峰期（1930年至1980年代）生产的。但是，处理瓷砖可能会承担暴露风险。房主应仅检查包装外部的标签。
如果没有包,最好承担任何flooring or other construction materials installed before 1980 contain the mineral. Homeowners should treat these materials with caution.
While visual clues like labels can suggest the presence of asbestos in the home, it is not a fool-proof method to identify asbestos.
To continue the earlier example,vinyl floor tiles have a high likelihood of containing the mineral。However, these products came in a variety of shapes and sizes, and not all used asbestos in their production.
03. How Home Asbestos Exposure Occurs
How Can Asbestos Exposure Occur in the Home?
石棉暴露由于以下情况，因此在家里可能会发生石棉产品：
- Renovation projects
- Maintenance projects
- A fire or natural disaster
- Flooding or water damage
- Aging / breakdown of the home
石棉暴露can occur anywhere in the house. Common sources of asbestos exposure in the home include:
- 屋顶
- Attics
- 爬行空间
- Floors
- Walls
- Ceilings
石棉暴露in the Attic
Some products, such asvermiculite attic insulation, have well-documented ties to asbestos contamination.
The EPA suggests up to 70% of the vermiculite sold in the United States between 1919 and 1990 was mined in Libby, Montana and may have been contaminated with asbestos.
家owners with vermiculite insulation should assume it contains asbestos. The insulation should not be disturbed to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Other Examples of At-Home Asbestos Exposure Scenarios
The only definitive way to determine whether a questionable product contains asbestos is to have a professional test for it. In the meantime,it’s best to limit damage and avoid handling materials suspected to contain asbestos until the tests are complete。
04. Limiting Exposure in the Home
How to Limit Asbestos Exposure in the Home
房主有多种方式可以主动对房屋中的潜在石棉进行积极主动，并避免曝光。避免房屋可能包含石棉的区域，监视房屋的材料损坏，并致电有执照的专业人员测试石棉可以防止曝光。
Exposure can occur anytime asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. Today, the risk of asbestos exposure is a concern due to older houses undergoing renovations and remodeling. Concerns regarding asbestos exposure are especially great when work on the home is do-it-yourself (DIY).
A licensed professional should perform testing for asbestos if a home has:
- Crumbling or damaged materials
- 计划改建或翻新
Asbestos testing allows the homeowner to take action and have the asbestos materials safely removed before any professional or do-it-yourself work occurs in the home.
05. Asbestos Found in the Home
What to Do When Asbestos Is Found in Your Home
In general, asbestos materials are considered safe when they are in good condition and there are no signs of damage.
If the material is damaged or worn, a professional may suggest removing or encapsulating the product. Encapsulation involves covering the materials with a sealant to prevent airborne fibers.
房主绝不会尝试自行拆除石棉。
根据职业安全与健康管理局（OSHA），没有安全的石棉暴露水平。处理材料的处理不当可能会释放纤维进入空气，从而造成健康危害。
Asbestos Safety Dos and Don’ts
如果受到干扰或损坏，房屋中的石棉可能非常危险。在1980年代之前建造的房屋可以用含石棉的材料建造。
Suspected asbestos-containing materials should be handled by professionals to avoid dangerous exposure.
Why You Should Not Use an At-Home Asbestos Test Kit
Asbestos materials are dangerous any time fibers are airborne. Unqualified homeowners attempting to test suspected asbestos materials on their own can cause a larger health hazard than the undisturbed asbestos materials.
At-home test kits can put homeowners and their families at risk of dangerous exposure.To collect samples for testing, the suspected hazardous materials must be disturbed. This can cause airborne fibers.
If an at-home asbestos test kit must be used, homeowners should:
- 关闭加热和冷却系统，以防止纤维穿过家里
- Wear an N95 respirator
- 戴一次性手套，然后洗手
- 确保没有人在房间里
- Wet the material
- Dispose of asbestos material according to state and local laws
*更多的拆除秘诀are on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.
Although at-home asbestos test kits may seem more economical than hiring a professional, the与石棉相关疾病有关的费用更大。
How Much Does Professional Asbestos Testing Cost?
专业石棉测试的成本各不相同。所需的样本数量，样品上完成的测试类型以及该国的一部分都可能影响成本。根据来自Homeadvisor的数据, the national average for asbestos testing is $495.
The cost of professionals is well worth it to prevent:
- 危险的暴露
- 健康问题
- Expensive medical bills
06.保护房主的预防措施
预防措施保护房主免受石棉暴露
Exposure to asbestos can cause deadly related diseases. Preventing asbestos exposure is the best course of action homeowners can take to protect themselves and their families.
Preventing asbestos exposure is often twofold:
- 解决与已知或怀疑的石棉暴露有关的潜在健康风险
- Passing legislation and guidelines (on the local, state and federal levels) regarding the safe removal of asbestos from homes and other potential exposure sources
医生探访如何帮助石棉暴露的房主
When homeowners experience known or suspected asbestos exposure in the home, it can be very scary. Asbestos exposure causes no immediate symptoms. There is also no clear medical procedure to identify if exposure has occurred in the past. As a result, the path forward can be unclear.
If individuals suspect they have been exposed to asbestos, they should speak with a medical professional.
医生可以监视这些标志，石棉相关疾病的症状, such as mesothelioma.
How Federal Asbestos Regulations Protect Homeowners
联邦法规减少了在建筑和制造中使用的石棉数量。1973年，美国使用了80万吨的石棉，而当今只有几百吨。
Although reducing asbestos use is good, without a complete ban, homeowners are still at risk. People are still coming into contact with items containing asbestos at home and/or on the job.
It is imperative for homeowners to understand:
- Where asbestos-containing materials are most likely to be found
- 哪些常见产品可能包含矿物质
- How to protect themselves and others should they come into contact with asbestos
The EPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) help protect air quality and reduce health risks presented by various contaminants, such as asbestos.
These NESHAP regulations create safety standards for:
- 拆除
- Renovations
- Installations
Neshap还涵盖石棉废物运输和处置。标准确保垃圾填埋场配备正确并有资格获得石棉材料。
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also has several bans in place related to certain asbestos-containing materials, such as artificial ashes and embers found in fireplaces.
These regulations aim to reduce asbestos exposure inside and outside the home.
The banning and limitation of certain asbestos uses reduces the amount of exposure future generations may experience.
Federal agencies, including the EPA, OSHA and the CPSC, work together to ensure all asbestos removed from homes and businesses is carefully discarded. Proper disposal of asbestos waste helps eliminate additional opportunities for exposure.
Asbestos in the home can be serious. Asbestos regulations are an important part of asbestos safety.
家owners should also investigate the age of their home. If built before the 1980s, a professional should inspect the home for asbestos.
