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What Is Asbestos?

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There are six types of asbestos, namely: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Of these, chrysotile and amosite asbestos are most common. Asbestos in all its forms is a naturally occurring mineral substance. It is a silicate (a material composed of silicon and oxygen atoms) and its fibres can be manipulated and pulled apart until it has a fluffy consistency. 

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Individual asbestos fibres are microscopic and have a needle-like structure. When materials containing asbestos are disturbed, these tiny fibres can become airborne and are then easily inhaled or ingested. Once inside the body, they can become lodged in the lining of the stomach, your heart, or your lungs, and can remain there for decades. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and the development of serious health conditions.

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So, why was asbestos so widely used prior to 1990 if it is so dangerous? In short, we didn’t know any better until it was too late. At the time, we only knew that asbestos fibres were soft and flexible while also being extremely durable and resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion; which made asbestos seem like the perfect material for a variety of applications across a wide variety of industries (for example as insulation in homes, as well as in roofing, shipbuilding and the manufacturing of auto parts). It was only decades after the material’s popularity and use soared that the link between asbestos exposure and serious illness was uncovered. Now we know that asbestos exposure leads to inflammation, scarring, and eventually, diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. As a result, the use of asbestos has since become highly regulated or outright banned in a number of countries around the world, including in Canada.

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The History of Asbestos in Canada

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Asbestos mining in Canada began in the 1800s. The country quickly became one of the world's top producers of the mineral. The town of Asbestos, Quebec, was the site of the world’s largest asbestos mine and remained a significant player in the asbestos industry for over a century. Canada was also one of the world's leading asbestos exporters when, by the 1970s, health risks associated with asbestos exposure started to become more widely recognized, and the demand for the mineral began to decrease. Despite the mounting evidence of the dangers of asbestos, the Canadian asbestos industry and the government denied these claims for a long time, insisting that the economic benefits and jobs provided by the industry outweighed the potential risks.

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The last asbestos mine in Canada was only officially closed in 2012, and the country finally banned asbestos entirely in 2018. The ban prohibits the import, sale, and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), including the manufacture and export of products containing asbestos. Despite this ban, asbestos-related illnesses continue to be a significant public health issue in Canada due to past exposures and the presence of asbestos in older buildings.

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Building Materials Containing Asbestos

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Many building materials used in both residential and commercial construction projects completed in and before the 1980s contain asbestos. These materials include, but are not limited to:

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1. Insulation materials used in walls and attics, around boilers and in or around ductwork.
2. Fireproofing and flame-resistant materials.
3. Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
4. Roofing and siding shingles.
5. Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints.
6. Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.
7. Hot water and steam pipes coated with a sprayable asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.
8. Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation.

Asbestos Testing

Asbestos testing typically involves taking samples from a building and sending them to a lab for analysis. While got mold?™ offers sample testing services for those of our customers who have taken their own samples, we recommend leaving sample collection to the professionals in the interest of your own health and safety and the health and safety of your family, tenants or coworkers who share the space. This is because even taking samples can be enough of a disturbance to cause the release of asbestos fibres into the air. 

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The two primary types of tests for the presence of asbestos are:

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1. Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM): This method involves using optical mineralogy (light and optics) to identify the type of asbestos. PLM can provide information about the quantity and type of asbestos present.
2. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM): This method can detect much smaller fibres than PLM and is also able to identify other types of fibres, such as fibreglass. TEM is typically more expensive than PLM.

Asbestos Testing Process: Overview

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If you’re beginning a renovation project, contact us first to evaluate any potential dangers. The first step in our process is to conduct sampling with one of our certified asbestos and mold inspectors. We can determine whether asbestos or mold is actually present in your home before you begin to move and disturb building materials. 

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We then follow the steps below to address the threat be it mold or asbestos-containing materials:

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1. Assess the origin of the contamination and determine the extent of the damage.

2. In the case of mold, we find the source of the problem and fix it.

3. Building materials are tested for mold, asbestos, lead paint and other dangerous substances.

4. Any harmful substances that are detected are contained and removed, which involves special equipment and disposal processes.

5. Perform cleaning with special equipment, such as HEPA vacuuming.

6. Complete post-remediation verification to ensure all the harmful material is gone.

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Don’t risk your own health, or that of your family, by taking on a renovation project without knowing whether or not you will be disturbing and releasing dangerous particles (mold or asbestos) into the air. 

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Here is a more detailed look at the steps involved in the asbestos testing and remediation process when you involve professional asbestos removers in your home renovation:

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1. Assessment and Sample Collection Planning:

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The first step in asbestos testing involves a detailed assessment of the property, primarily to determine whether it was constructed before the 1980s (when asbestos was commonly used). The professional asbestos inspector will then develop a plan for which materials to sample based on this assessment. Commonly sampled materials include insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, and others suspected to contain asbestos.

When it comes to indoor air quality and safety, conducting proper asbestos identification and testing procedures prior to construction, renovation, or demolition of a building may be the most important step you can take to protect your health.

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2. Sample Collection:

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Once the inspector has identified potential asbestos-containing materials, they will collect samples. While it may be tempting to collect DIY asbestos samples, this act is best performed by trained professionals. Improper handling can disturb asbestos-containing material, causing fibres to become airborne and potentially be inhaled.

During the sample collection process, the area is usually isolated to prevent contamination, and protective measures are in place to protect the tester from exposure. These protective measures can include personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respirators and gloves. The professional will then carefully cut a small piece of the material in question to test; trying to minimize the release of asbestos fibres.

The samples are then placed into sealed containers, typically zip-lock bags, and clearly labeled with the sample location and other relevant information.

The health and safety of our communities is our top priority.

Maybe you aren’t convinced you really have asbestos in your home. Maybe you’re confident you can collect your own sample safely. Whatever your reason for collecting samples, we’ll not only test them for you; we’ll teach you how to collect asbestos samples as safely as possible without formal training or access to professional equipment:

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2.1 Collecting Your Own Samples - How To Collect A Sample‍

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• Always use personal protective equipment that includes a disposable N95 mask or respirator, disposable gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing.
• To prevent the spread of any fibres you disturb, turn off your furnace and air conditioner.
• Cover the area with plastic drop sheeting so that any debris that falls to the floor is easy to clean up.
• Use water to finely mist the area where you’ll be taking a sample to help minimize the release of fine dust.
• A clean knife works best to remove a sample. See instructions below as to how large the sample should be for different potential asbestos-containing materials.
• A plastic zip-lock style bag is best for collecting the sample. Be sure to safely let the air out of the bag and then seal the bag and label it with the date and location where the sample was taken. If taking multiple samples, you should also include a sample number. (001,002 etc.)
• To clean up, use a damp cloth to wipe the area where the sample was taken, the exterior of the sample bag, the tools you used, your personal protective equipment, and the plastic drop sheet(s) you used to cover the area.
• DO NOT VACUUM up any dust. Use a damp cloth or damp paper towel to pick it up. Vacuuming releases particles into the air which can be inhaled!
• Package your gloves, clothes, drop sheets, and other disposable material: used into a garbage bag and seal it.
• Your soiled clothes should be laundered separately, and you should shower once you are done with all the other steps in the clean up process.
• Combine all your individually packaged samples into a larger zip-lock style bag and label with your name, location, date, and contact information before proceeding to deliver the samples to us for testing

Collection of different types of materials

FLOORING – FLOOR TILES OR VINYL SHEET FLOORING

When testing your vinyl sheet flooring or floor tiles for the presence of asbestos; 

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• A sample size of two square inches is required.
• A hooked knife or pry bar usually works well for removing floor tiles. Vinyl flooring can usually be cut out with a utility knife.
• The sample must include everything from the top of the flooring to the substrate.
• Be sure your sample includes the paper backing and the mastic (glue).
• Your sample should include all the layers of flooring that are present.
• For example, if there is a leveling compound or a vapour barrier under the flooring, cut out a sample of these materials as well. We do not want the tests to return a false negative. If you only sample the top layer of your flooring and it comes back clear for asbestos, you run the risk of disturbing asbestos in the lower, untested levels when you begin work.

POPCORN CEILING

When testing your popcorn ceiling for the presence of asbestos; 

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• You should collect at least two samples from the same ceiling and from more than one room if necessary. You can place more than one sample into a single bag if you are using the scraping method, and you will then be charged per bag for sample testing.
• Keep in mind that additions to your home/property will have different materials and should be tested separately.
• Scraping the popcorn ceiling allows you to save money on testing by providing a single bag of collective samples. However, scraping can cause the ceiling material to break off and cause particles thereof to disperse into the air. 
• It is safer to use duct tape to cover the sample area, and then to use a trowel or knife to break off the texture under the tape.  Add the tape to a bag as a sample. (If using this sample method, please note: you will be charged per taped sample as opposed to putting all of your scrapings into one bag/sample).
• Whether scraping or taping, ensure you include a thin layer of the drywall mud compound underneath the popcorn ceiling in your sample. It is best to take the sample in a corner where the ceiling meets the wall or where you can see a tape seam.

VERMICULITE – ATTICS AND WALL CAVITIES

When testing vermiculite or other insulation materials from your attic and/or wall cavities for the presence of asbestos; 

• A minimum of one cup is required for testing and samples should be collected from 3 different areas. 
• If there is more than one type of vermiculite present, each should be collected separately.
• Turn your zip-lock style bag inside out and place it over your hand like a glove to collect a sample.
• Your sample should include material from the top as well as closer to the bottom of the wall or attic. Making sure you get down to the bottom is important as asbestos fibres tend to settle over the years.

WALLBOARD, PLASTER, TEXTURED WALLS, AND DRYWALL MUD

When testing wallboard, plaster, textured walls and/or drywall mud for the presence of asbestos; 

• Your sample should include all layers of the surface, e.g. paint, textured surface, tape, joint compound, plaster, brown paper wrap, gypsum sheet etc.
• Corners often work best for collecting mud samples.
• You do not need to include metal screens or wood from lathe and plaster walls.

SILICONE ON WINDOWS AND DOORS

When testing silicone sealants for the presence of asbestos;

• A one inch long sample is sufficient for testing.
• Use a utility knife to cut along the window and trim sides to remove.

THERMAL INSULATION ON BOILERS

When testing your thermal insulation for the presence of asbestos;

• A 2 inch x 2 inch sample is required.
• Wet down the area you will be sampling by misting with water. Repeat misting as you cut into the material.
• Use a utility knife to cut out the sample.
• Cover the hole from the sample with tape.

ROOFING

When testing your roofing materials for the presence of asbestos;

• It is usually the tar and paper that contain asbestos. Your sample should include these materials.

HOW MANY SAMPLES SHOULD YOU COLLECT FOR YOUR ASBESTOS TESTING?

Unfortunately, your test results will only be as reliable as your sample collection methods are thorough. False negative test results are possible when samples have not been collected correctly. We take no responsibility for false negatives as a result of improper sampling or handling of samples performed by our customers.

Asbestos Abatement

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Asbestos abatement is the process of removing, or at the very least minimizing the health risks of living with, asbestos in a building. This can involve several methods:

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1. Removal: This is the most effective method, but also the most costly. It involves the complete removal of asbestos-containing materials from a building.
2. Encapsulation: This involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibres together or coats the material so fibres cannot be released.
3. Enclosure: This involves building airtight walls or floors around the asbestos-containing material to prevent the release of fibres.

An asbestos abatement project typically involves 5 phases:

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1. Preparation: Before the actual abatement process begins, the area must be prepared. This involves setting up a containment area to prevent asbestos fibres from spreading. The containment area is usually a polyethylene plastic sheeting that seals off the work area from the rest of the property. Inside this area, negative air pressure is maintained using specialized equipment to ensure that any airborne fibres are sucked in and not let out into the rest of the building.

2. Removal or Treatment: Asbestos-containing materials are then either removed, encapsulated, or enclosed, depending on the decided abatement method:

3. Cleanup: After the removal or treatment, the area is cleaned using specialized HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuums to remove any remaining dust or particles. This ensures that no asbestos fibres remain in the area.

4. Disposal: Any removed materials, along with cleaning supplies, protective clothing, and plastic sheeting from the containment area, are sealed in leak-tight containers and properly disposed of at a facility certified to handle hazardous waste.

5. Air Monitoring & Verification: Once the abatement process is complete, air samples are collected and tested to ensure that the area is safe to reoccupy. This step is crucial in verifying that the asbestos abatement process was successful and that the area is safe.

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Due to the inherent risk associated with asbestos abatement, it should only be carried out by trained professionals. Improper handling of ACMs can lead to the release of asbestos fibres into the air, increasing the risk of asbestos exposure and exposure-related diseases.

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A large part of understanding the asbestos abatement process is knowing about the different risk levels associated with its removal. There are three different risk levels that can be assigned to an asbestos abatement project:

Asbestos Removal Risk Levels Explained

Each asbestos project will be defined as either a low-risk, medium-risk, or high-risk abatement. Each abatement level requires an escalating amount of safety procedures to ensure the safe removal of asbestos from the area. These procedures are in place to protect the workers on the job site and to ensure proper and complete removal of the asbestos for the long-term health and safety of the site occupants.

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Low-Risk Abatement

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Low-risk abatements do NOT require a containment area. Often simple banner tape can suffice to keep people out of the abatement area.

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Air monitoring must be completed before the project commences to make sure that the number of airborne fibres are within acceptable limits. Materials to be removed should be wetted with a surfactant to inhibit asbestos fibres from becoming airborne during the removal process. Low-risk abatements have a minimum PPE requirement of a Tyvek suit and a ½ mask with a P100 filter. 

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Medium-Risk Abatement

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Medium-, also referred to as moderate-risk abatements, require removal site containment. This means that the abatement area must be completely isolated from uncontaminated areas. A three-stage chambered exit must be set up with a dirty room, transfer room, and clean room. All materials leaving the containment area must be bagged, wiped down and then double-bagged in yellow hazardous-waste bags clearly marked as containing asbestos. 

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All workers must wipe themselves off with a cloth soaked in soapy water prior to leaving the containment area, and any clothes worn in the abatement area must stay in the containment area as they are considered contaminated materials.

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Negative air pressure must be maintained throughout the abatement, air monitoring is mandatory inside the containment area, outside the containment area, and in the cleanroom, and a mandatory occupational exposure test must be performed on a daily basis. 

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Medium-risk asbestos-containing materials include drywall mud, decorative plaster, roofing shingles, and wallboard.

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High-Risk Abatement

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The protocols for high-risk abatements are far stricter than those for low- and medium-risk abatements. The entire operation becomes increasingly sophisticated once an abatement is deemed high-risk. A three-stage containment unit, consisting of a dirty room, transfer room (and shower unit), and cleanroom must be set up for all high-risk asbestos abatements. Negative air pressure must be maintained throughout the duration of the abatement, and a shower unit equipped with a 10-micron filter is required to keep asbestos out of the water supply. All workers must shower before leaving the containment area.

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In terms of PPE for high-risk abatements, workers have to be naked under their Tyvek suits, and PAPR full-face masks with P100 filters are a requirement. All materials leaving the containment area must be bagged, washed, and then double-bagged in yellow hazardous-waste bags clearly marked as containing asbestos. Air monitoring must be set up inside and outside the containment area, as well as in the cleanroom. In addition to continuous air monitoring, a daily occupational exposure sample must be taken to ensure that the air quality is still within occupational exposure limits.If the air sample comes back containing unacceptably high levels of asbestos, workers are required to upgrade their PPE to a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the remainder of the abatement period. 

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Materials considered high-risk include linoleum, popcorn ceilings, vermiculite, boiler insulation, pipe wrap, ceiling tiles and spray-on asbestos insulation.

Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure

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Exposure to asbestos, especially long-term exposure, can lead to serious health issues such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These illnesses are often associated with a latency period, meaning symptoms may not appear until decades after the initial exposure.

The primary symptom of asbestosis is a slowly developing and often progressive shortness of breath on exertion. In other words, the main symptom of asbestosis is difficulty breathing when you exercise and this can get worse over time. In severe cases, this may be accompanied by respiratory failure. Other symptoms can include:

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1. Persistent Dry Cough: This can be a result of damage to the lung tissues causing inflammation and irritation.
2. Chest Pain or Tightness: As lung capacity decreases due to scarring, some people may experience chest pain or tightness.
3. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss: As the disease progresses, some people may lose their appetite and, as a result, experience significant weight loss.
4. Finger Deformity: In advanced cases of asbestosis, individuals may experience clubbing of fingers and toes. This is where the ends of the fingers and toes become swollen and take on a box-like appearance.
5. Fatigue: Decreased oxygen levels due to reduced lung capacity can lead to an overall feeling of fatigue.
6. Crackling Noise When Breathing: This noise is a result of the lung tissue scarring and stiffening.

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Asbestosis is specifically related to prolonged exposure to asbestos and the subsequent lung damage. However, asbestos can also lead to other diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Symptoms of these diseases can vary but might include similar symptoms to asbestosis along with additional symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and swelling of the face and arms.

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Because symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take many years to develop, it's crucial to have regular check-ups if you know you've been exposed to asbestos in the past. Regular monitoring can help detect any potential issues early, increasing the chances of effective treatment. Asbestosis can be diagnosed through a thorough physical exam, imaging tests (X-rays or CT scans), lung-function tests or a lung biopsy. There is no cure for asbestosis, but treatments can alleviate discomfort and improve your quality of life. 

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Treatments for asbestosis are symptomatic and supportive and may include pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy or, in severe cases, your doctor may recommend you for a lung transplant. In the case of asbestosis, prevention is better than cure. If you live or work in an environment where you're likely to be exposed to asbestos, it's important to follow all safety guidelines to minimize your exposure. If you suspect asbestos in your environment, you should have the area inspected and, if necessary, abated by a professional.

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Reduce your risk of asbestos exposure by hiring professionals to test for asbestos. Not doing so greatly increases the risk of you, your family, or your employees from being exposed to asbestos fibres that cause health risks such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.