What constitutes a lead hazard?

A lead hazard is defined as any environmental condition that may cause lead exposure and ultimately lead poisoning. Lead exposure occurs when lead builds up in the body, generally over a period of months or years. However, cchildren are more at risk for lead poisoning because their smaller bodies are in a continuous state of growth and development. Lead is absorbed at a faster rate compared to adults, which causes more physical harm than to older people. Furthermore, children, especially as they are learning to crawl and walk, are constantly on the floor and therefore more prone to ingesting and inhaling dust that is contaminated with lead. Lead poisoning is a serious condition and affects almost all body systems. In high levels, it can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. In lower levels, it adversely affects the kidneys, brain, central nervous system, and blood cells. Lead exposure has particularly serious effects on young children, causing delays in mental and physical development, lower IQ levels, shorter attention spans, and behavioral problems. It can also cause learning difficulties and slowed growth in newborns exposed before birth.

Lead-based paint is the biggest source of lead exposure in the U.S. today. Most buildings built before 1960 have lead-based paint, and buildings built as late as 1978 may also have lead-based paint. Lead-based paint which is in good condition (i.e. not peeling or chipping) generally does not pose a threat and should be left alone. However, lead-based paint that is chipping, peeling, or otherwise damaged or deteriorated is considered a “lead hazard” and can be a major health risk.

Am I required to inform occupants of asbestos or lead in my building?

Asbestos is a very dangerous material, and asbestos fibers if inhaled or ingested, can cause very serious health problems, including severe respiratory diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Any asbestos materials that are damaged, deteriorated, or friable are likely to release asbestos fibers into the air. It is sometimes very easy to inadvertently damage asbestos-containing materials, so extreme caution should be observed around such materials. For this reason, it is important that individuals who may be working near asbestos materials are aware of the danger and can act with the appropriate caution.

If you are the owner of a building where asbestos materials, or materials you suspect may contain asbestos, are present, it is your responsibility to inform potentially affected parties. This duty to inform can include several types of people. As a building owner, you should inform any company who is planning construction, repair or renovation work in your building of the possible presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM). This is necessary to prevent the accidental disturbance of asbestos that could expose workers or building occupants. You must also inform any of your employees who will be working in areas that are near asbestos-containing materials or suspected asbestos-containing materials... Finally, if you are the owner of a residential building, you must inform any prospective tenants who might occupy areas near or around known or suspected asbestos materials.

How long does it take to remove asbestos?

Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can cause very serious health problems, including severe respiratory diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Any asbestos materials that are damaged, deteriorated, or friable are likely to release asbestos fibers into the air, and therefore should be removed. However, improper removal of asbestos is very dangerous, and can sometimes lead to an exposure risk level higher than that caused by the damaged or deteriorated asbestos containing materials (ACM). Therefore, there are many precautions that asbestos removal companies must take in order to ensure that asbestos materials are removed safely.

Do I need a permit to remove asbestos from my home?

Asbestos is most commonly found behind walls or above ceilings in insulation. There are two types of insulation that may contain asbestos: insulation made with asbestos, which is most often found in houses built between 1930 and 1950, and vermiculite insulation. 70% of the vermiculite insulation in buildings today was manufactured at a site in Libby, Montana that was contaminated with asbestos, so if you have vermiculite insulation in your building, it is very likely that it contains asbestos. Asbestos can also be found in cement sheeting behind walls, patching and joint compound in walls or ceilings, textured paint on walls or ceilings, and acoustic ceiling tiles.

Don’t panic if you have asbestos insulation or any other asbestos material behind walls or ceilings in your building. As long as the asbestos material remains behind the walls or ceilings, it is not dangerous. Even nail holes and similar minor damage to walls that enclose asbestos materials are not large enough to create a health risk. If you suspect that there may be asbestos materials behind the walls or above the ceilings of your building, the best course of action is to leave them alone and take care not to damage or disturb them.

How can I protect myself from asbestos?

Asbestos is a very unique material in many ways and is the name for a combination of minerals found naturally.  Some of asbestos’ defining traits include fibers that can be woven, exhibit high tensile strength, are fire resistance, and have a high electrical resistance.  In addition to its exclusive properties, the way asbestos affects people is also exceptional.  Most illnesses and diseases have a latency period.  This means that an ailment may be present in the body, but has not yet revealed itself with the accompanying signs or symptoms.  For most diseases, the latency periods are short lived, lasting a matter of days or weeks.  Asbestos related diseases on the other hand, can lay dormant anywhere from 10-30 years.  During the exposure process, in whatever forms that may be, the asbestos fibers in an area can continue to breakdown further and further into smaller segments.  These extremely small fibers can remain airborne for days after an initial disturbance.  These small pieces can either be inhaled or ingested.  A health issue can form when asbestos fibers settle into the lungs and the pleural cavity.  During the latency period, those fibers begin scaring the body and after so long may develop into a number of asbestos related diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer.  For all these reasons it is hard to know if your exposure to asbestos will affect your health.  So how can you know?

How long should I keep waste records?

It is important to keep clear and complete records for all asbestos waste, and the method of keeping these records currently accepted by the EPA’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations is through a Waste Shipment Record (WSR). Before we go into how long WSR’s should be kept, it is important to understand what a WSR is and how it works.

WSR’s are composed of three parts and require the signatures of three separate parties: the waste generator, the transporter, and the waste disposal site operator. A “waste generator” is defined as the owner or operator of any concern that generates asbestos waste. This includes asbestos mills, manufacturers, fabricators, demolition or renovation projects, etc. The waste generator is responsible for filling out the first part of the WSR, and then transfers the waste shipment and WSR to the transporter. It is important that the waste generator keep a copy of the WSR signed by the transporter for their records.

How long can I store asbestos waste?

Asbestos waste cannot be stored in a building indefinitely. Storage is only acceptable as an interim solution for asbestos waste. Asbestos waste can be stored at the generation site (the site from where it was removed) in appropriate containers for up to 90 days, but should be disposed of as soon as it is practical. It can also be stored at an intermediate location in a licensed solid waste transportation vehicle. Apart from these two cases, asbestos waste should always be disposed of at an appropriate location. Asbestos waste should only be disposed of at designated landfills which are authorized to accept asbestos. You can check with your local Health Department or branch of the EPA in your area for landfills that accept asbestos waste. Be aware that different states have different packaging, labeling and transportation.