My Home Was Built in 1970 – Should I Be Worried About Asbestos?
Homes in Los Angeles CA built prior to 1978 often contain asbestos.
If your home in Los Angeles CA was built in or around 1970, you should definitely educate yourself about the dangers of asbestos and exercise caution when handling any material that may potentially contain asbestos. Examples of such materials include roofing shingles, floor tiles, acoustic ceiling tiles, insulation, and paint.
Asbestos Bans
While more than 50 countries have totally banned asbestos, the US isn’t one of them. The EPA passed several bans in the 1970s, and the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1989 banned almost all uses of asbestos. Although the Supreme Court overturned most of this act in 1991, public awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos increased greatly, and today building materials tend to contain less than 1 percent asbestos, a level which is considered safe.
Asbestos Use
The US continues to import asbestos from countries including China, Russia, and Brazil. The peak of asbestos importation occurred in 1973, when 803,000 metric tons of asbestos were imported. In 2012, only 1,060 metric tons were imported, mainly for use by chemical companies creating chlorine. This…
AQMD – What is it and how does it help me?
The AQMD is dedicated to improving air quality in our communities by drafting and enforcing anti-smog regulations.
The AQMD, or Air Quality Management District, is a government air pollution control agency dedicated to improving air quality in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. The LA area is the smoggiest region in the country, due to a combination of urban congestion, high greenhouse gas emissions, and geography. The AQMD helps residents and business owners alike ensure that their activities do not contribute to excessive smog, which is hazardous to human health as well as to the planet. The AQMD accomplishes this goal through three main activities:
Establishing Regulations
Every city and county in California must take steps to ensure that they meet the clean air standards established by the Federal Clean Air Act and the California Clean Air Act. The AQMD helps cities and counties with this goal by creating plans, guidelines, and regulations that will enable them to reduce their emissions by five percent or more each year until their ambient air meets the cleanliness standards established by the California Clean Air Act. The main pollutants that are targeted by the…
READ MORE →Asbestos Laws & Regulations – Do They Really Protect Me?
Yes, asbestos laws & regulations protect individuals by striving to prevent exposure to this hazardous material.
Because asbestos is a highly carcinogenic substance that can cause serious health problems ranging from respiratory issues to lung cancer, the federal government and the state of California have both instituted laws and regulations designed to protect individuals from exposure to this hazardous substance.
The Asbestos Ban
Starting in the 1970s, the EPA initiated several bans on various types of asbestos-containing materials, culminating in a near-total ban in 1989 via the Toxic Substances Control Act. While many of the provisions in this act were overturned by the Supreme Court in 1991, asbestos use in America still declined dramatically. Materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos continue to be banned, which has greatly improved the safety of new buildings.
Workplace Protections
The state of California has many asbestos laws and regulations in place designed to protect individuals who many come in contact with asbestos as part of their jobs. The state can actually shut down workplaces if officials have reason to believe that damaged asbestos is present and inadequate steps have been taken to protect employees from airborne asbestos fibers.
Asbestos… READ MORE →
Are Your Air Ducts Contaminated with Asbestos?
If professional asbestos testing in Orange CA reveals the presence of contamination, call AQHI Inc.
Indoor air quality is one of the most overlooked factors related to the health and safety of your home. One of the worst indoor air contaminants you can encounter is asbestos. While contaminants like carbon monoxide may pose more immediate dangers, at least you can use carbon monoxide detectors to provide an early warning of contamination. There is no such home detection system for asbestos, yet inhaling asbestos fibers over an extended period of time can prove every bit as deadly. If you suspect that the air ducts in your home in Orange CA could be contaminated with asbestos, you need to get professional help immediately.
How to Tell if Your Ducts Might Be Contaminated
There are several red flags that might indicate that your air ducts could be contaminated with asbestos. First of all, consider the age of your home. If your home was built before the wave of asbestos bans in the 1970s, chances are very good that you have asbestos in your home.
Next, examine the insulation around your air ducts. If any of this insulation…
READ MORE →Are You Looking for a Qualified Asbestos Removal Company in Glendale CA?
Be sure to check for the necessary licenses, certifications, and insurance before hiring an asbestos removal company in Glendale CA
If you have damaged asbestos-containing materials in your home, you need to stop taking chances with your health and get professional asbestos removal as soon as possible. Considering that asbestos is so dangerous, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of picking a contractor for the job. You need to get a qualified asbestos removal company Glendale CA in order to ensure that the job gets done correctly and safely. Here’s how to make sure that happens.
Check Licenses and Certifications
Using an unlicensed or incompetent contractor could actually make the asbestos contamination in your home worse. In some cases, contractors have actually been seen throwing asbestos-containing materials down from the rooftops of homes or engaging in other behaviors that are clearly unsafe. The asbestos-containing materials should be disturbed as little as possible during the removal process, not manhandled or broken in a rough manner that will release more asbestos fibers into the air.
By checking the licenses and certifications of the asbestos removal company Glendale CA you are considering, you can make…
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