A Long Island community is attempting to rid its town of a long-time eyesore, but has had trouble lining up a contractor to remove asbestos from the property at an affordable price.

According to Riverheadlocal.com, the town of Riverhead will solicit bids for the third time to award a contract for asbestos abatement at the former Weeping Willow motel. The town hopes to demolish the structure and develop the land as part of a riverfront greenbelt.

Asbestos removal frequently is done ahead of demolition to prevent fibers of the hazardous mineral from becoming airborne and causing a health danger to anyone in the vicinity. Asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis and has been the focus of many asbestos settlements and mesothelioma lawsuits.

The West Main Street property was purchased by the town last year for $1.2 million, the community website reported.

The New York state Community Preservation Fund provided $500,000 toward the purchase price because the site is one of 150 parcels in the Wading River corridor that the state has identified as environmentally significant. The preservation fund is funded by the collection of 2-percent taxes on land transfers in local communities.

Source: Mesothelioma Resource Center

Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral, and it is mined in a number of countries across the world.  Historically, it has been a popular mineral to use in construction due to the fact that it is durable, flexible, resistant to chemical attack, an excellent insulator and able to withstand high temperatures.  Even the name itself comes from the Greek language where it means ‘un-extinguishable’.

In the UK, asbestos has been used since the industrial revolution when it was first used as insulation.  Since then, it has been used in various applications such as fire retardant coatings, bricks, pipe lagging and lining of boilers.

There are three main forms of asbestos that occur naturally.  The first is known as ‘chrysotile’, or white asbestos, and is by far the most commonly used type.   It was usually mixed with cement to form corrugated roof sheets, or used to make flat sheets for walls and floors.  Extremely flexible, it can be spun and woven like cloth which made it ideal as pipe insulation or even fireproof clothing.  Considered to be dangerous to health, it was banned from the UK in 1999.  It is estimated that this type accounts for up to 95% of all asbestos found in buildings.

The second type of asbestos is called ‘amosite’, or brown asbestos.  In buildings it is most commonly found covering steel as fire protection or in walls as sound proofing.  This type of asbestos is also considered harmful, and the import of amosite was banned in 1986.

The third form of asbestos is called ‘crocidolite’, or blue asbestos.  It is a harder and less flexible form than the other types, but it is extremely strong and has a high acid resistance.  It is considered to be the most dangerous of all asbestos types, and its use was strictly controlled from 1969 until it was finally banned in 1986.

It is essential that when asbestos it is found it is removed and disposed of correctly by a professional, licensed asbestos removal company, as the removal process can expose you to health risks if the correct procedures are not followed.

As asbestos has been used for over a century, it has been included in thousands of products.  The list below gives some of the common uses for asbestos containing products so that you know what to be careful of when carrying out alterations to a property.  While asbestos is generally safe if left alone, any damage can lead to the release of fibres which are dangerous to health.

Roof tiles and panels – asbestos is commonly found mixed with concrete to make either flat or corrugated panels.  They are often seen as the roofs or walls of outbuildings and garages.

Roofing felt – asbestos can be found combined with bitumen in the felt often found covering flat roofs, where it gives flexibility and insulation.  Some bitumen products containing asbestos were also used to make guttering.

Lagging – adding asbestos to cloth allowed it to be used to lag pipework and prevent heat loss or frost damage.  Similar material was also used for fire blankets and some protective clothing.

Sound proofing - sprayed asbestos can often be found in under floors and in ceiling voids where it acts to prevent noise pollution.

Electrical insulation – Asbestos paper has been used to wrap electrical cabling and as the back of fuse boxes because of its non-flammable properties.

Spray coating – spraying asbestos on structural components of buildings provides protections against damage from heat and cold.

Loose packing – wall and ceiling cavities in older buildings may contain asbestos as it was frequently used as insulation.

Door linings - a flat sheet of asbestos under door panels provides resistance in the event of fire.

While this list gives you an idea of what to look for, it is not complete and if you are in any doubt a qualified asbestos surveyor should be contacted for advice.  They will be able to assess the situation and advise you accordingly.  If in any doubt ask a professional asbestos removal company to undertake an asbestos survey so that you are certain of what you dealing with before you start removing anything that could significantly harm your health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Saunders

Saying it was using “an abundance of caution,” MSG released a statement saying it consulted with the NBA and decided to postpone the game, and wouldn’t reopen the building until it was assured the arena was safe.

A spokesman for New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, Farrell Sklerov, said the agency’s inspectors were on the scene and had determined that no asbestos had been released.

Garden officials, he said, apparently became concerned after two air quality monitoring stations set up in the arena seating area were triggered while a crew was clearing debris from the building’s attic.

Subsequent testing, however, revealed that the dust particles that set off the alarm didn’t contain asbestos fibers. The material is only dangerous if it is damaged, produces airborne dust and is inhaled.

The work was done by maintenance staff in the attic above the ceiling following the New York Rangers’ game and prevented workers from laying down the Knicks’ hardwood floor. The ice surface was still down as of Tuesday afternoon.

In its statement, MSG said it would work with the city and independent experts ATC Associates and GCI Environmental Advisory to determine the next steps.

“As the safety of our customers and employees are our top priority, we will not reopen the Garden until we are absolutely assured the arena is safe,” the statement said.

ATC and GCI did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press.

No makeup date for the Magic-Knicks game has been announced. MSG said it would provide information about future events once they have been determined. The Knicks are scheduled to play at home against Washington on Friday. The arena will host Roger Waters: The Wall Live on Saturday, and the Knicks and Rangers will play a doubleheader Sunday.

Should the arena remain closed for a lengthy period, the Knicks might have to look elsewhere to play temporarily. The Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., could be considered now that the New Jersey Nets have moved their home games to the Prudential Center in Newark.

Opened in February 1968 and known as “Garden IV,” the Garden is in the early stages of a renovation that began last summer. It’s expected to cost between $775 and $850 million, with extensive work slated for the summers of 2011 and 2012.

It’s the second recent arena-related postponement for the Magic. The exhibition game against Miami that was scheduled for the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., was canceled because of slippery court conditions after arena officials said an oil-based cleaning solution was mistakenly applied.

The Knicks told ticket holders to retain their tickets and to check the team’s website, www.nyknicks.com, for rescheduling information.

Source: Associated Press via Yahoo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pieter_Pepler

Asbestos is one of the scariest and frightening things that we can ever find in our homes. Asbestos is a mineral which is made up of millions of very tiny fibres. The problem with these fibres is that they are so small they can easily become airborne.

If the fibres are inhaled then they can cause many health complaints, many of which are ultimately fatal. If anyone is exposed to a high amount of asbestos fibres in the air then there is a much bigger risk that this person will develop cancer or other related conditions. Asbestos is seen as a very dangerous substance, and although there have been no safe thresholds identified, it is very important to avoid all contact with it.
Diseases caused by asbestos

Some of the most common diseases that are caused by asbestos exposure can include things like:

• Lung Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis

Mesothelioma is an extremely rare type of cancer that only seems to affect people that have been exposed to asbestos. It is almost always fatal.

Asbestosis is where the fibres from the asbestos have cause scarring to the lungs, making them much less efficient.

Sometimes if asbestos is not disturbed then it will cause no harm to you or your family. However if you do have asbestos then it is important to get it seen to as quickly as possible.

When dealing with asbestos it is very important that you do not disturb the asbestos at all, make sure you don’t cut, crush, drill, sand or saw anything that contains asbestos.

If you have asbestos floors then do not try to sand it down to a certain level. If there is any dust that might contain asbestos fibres then do not sweep or vacuum it up. You should also never dispose of asbestos waste with normal rubbish.

Hiring a professional

If you have any asbestos anywhere in your home, or suspect that you might then it’s important to hire a professional. Although asbestos in good condition poses very little concern, if it is left to deteriorate and become dust then this will be potentially fatal. Asbestos was a very popular material for insulating homes right up until the mid 1980′s, which means a large proportion of homes potentially have asbestos. Asbestos was used for a number of different things, including insulation, floor tiles, and in various other building materials.

Removing this yourself would mean that you are exposing yourself to risks, you do not have the relevant training or the necessary safety equipment which will mean more of the asbestos will get broken up, which ultimately means you will breathe more of the asbestos in making it more likely you will suffer from health problems.

One of the companies that you might like to consider hiring is A1 Asbestos Removal , you can learn more about these services offered by this company on their website which can be found at http://www.a1asbestos.com.au. They offer asbestos removal services throughout Australia, including asbestos removal Queensland and asbestos removal Brisbane.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_O’Malley

Asbestos is one of those dangers that we can’t see, and symptoms of asbestos exposure usually take 20 – 40 years to develop … but they’re usually 100% fatal. So, getting yourself some basic education now, might be very rewarding in a couple of decades …

• friable – when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure
• non-friable which cannot be reduced to powder by hand pressure

#1. Transite pipe (non friable)- you can easily recognize one by removing the register cover in the slab section of your house. It looks like a cement pipe and will most likely have very rough, uneven edges around the opening (just like on the pictures). Those rough edges are one problem, another one is that Transite pipes are not flexible and often crack under or inside the slab creating more rough surfaces and airborne fibers. If you suspect your air ducts to be made out of asbestos containing cement – have a professional to take a sample and laboratory test it – this is the only full-proof way to determine if it contains asbestos and what kind of asbestos is it.Another Transite pipe application was the chimney flue, or its insulation. As an insulation performs well unless significantly deteriorated, falling apart (just like on the picture, which often happens if used on exterior, above the roof parts of the chimney).

Transite pipe used as a primary chimney flue, with no metal liner inside, creates a problem when it cracks, and starts leaking exhaust fumes into the attic or living area. Therefore, all vent pipes that pass through the house living areas and the attics are now required to be double-walled, galvanized metal, or Type-B, and I highly recommend replacing the Transite pipe and disposing of it correctly.

#2. Paper wrap insulation on heat vent flue pipes joints (friable) – when it comes to water heater or furnace replacement, its vent pipe might need to disassembled – if it is asbestos, this process should be done by a asbestos professional.

#3. Vermiculite insulation (friable)- is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that is flat and shiny in its natural state and puffed and dull in its expanded shape (EPA).

Tons of Vermiculite based material is still insulating the Chicago land homes, usually in the attics and wall cavities, some of it might be heavily contaminated with asbestos. This mineral was discovered near the town of Libby, Montana (Grace mine) in 1881, and mined between the early ’20s to the early ’90s (records indicate that 70 -80 percent of all vermiculite sold in the world during that time came from the contaminated Libby, Montana mine), and distributed under the name of “Zonolite”. With or without asbestos Vermiculite looks very much the same, and cannot be distinguished without laboratory testing. So if you recognize in your home material that looks like one of the pictures, make sure that you have it evaluated by a professional;

- don’t disturb it (vacuuming, sweeping, dusting)

- if sweeping / cleaning is necessary, wet it first to make sure that no dust is produced during this process

_ stop any remodeling process during which Vermiculite was discovered or which might cause Vermiculite disturbance.

#4. Sprayed on Textures Ceilings (friable)- some of us love it, many use it because it hides surface imperfections, and many more don’t like it. When it comes to remodeling you should test it for asbestos presence, because using a traditional scraping method will produce plenty of dust.

#5. Cement asbestos roofing and siding – no danger under normal conditions (non friable), but it could add several thousands of dollars to your remodeling or demolition project, when you’re faced with removing it.

#6. Fireproofing (friable and not friable) – asbestos containing panels of various types (some resembling cement boards, or thick, cardboard like paper), installed above the furnaces, surrounding furnace / water heater room, inside the furnaces and boilers (I’ve seen some inside the old forced air furnaces used a liner of a heat exchanger enclosure walls), as a furnace or water heater insulation.

Local law might require that you perform asbestos inspection when applying for a demolition or construction / remodeling permits, so check with them first.

Read Part One of Asbestos in Your Home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dariusz_Rudnicki

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dariusz_Rudnicki

Because of its unique qualities such as resistance to heat, fire, wear or chemicals, asbestos used to be a very popular material – until a short time ago.

For a long time, people used to create a lot of things out of asbestos, such as building material, clothes or toys. But then, some 50 years ago, it was found out that it was poisonous. Asbestos poisoning – what is it actually? The advantage and curse of asbestos at the same time is its durability, which has been exploited in many industries. A human body has no way of getting rid of asbestos, once it happens to be present.

If asbestos is part of some material, as long as it stays in it, it is harmless. The more imminent danger comes from inhaling the tiny needle-like asbestos fibers, when they get airborne. The trouble with asbestos poisoning is that its primary symptoms such as dry cough, tightness in the chest or shortness of breath are the same as the symptoms of a lot of less serious diseases. Unfortunately, asbestos poisoning has also quite a long latency period. Therefore the true reason of the patient’s problems is often found out too late.

Asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer – these are the most common diseases connected to asbestos poisoning. The lungs of an asbestosis patient are trying to get rid of the asbestos fibers and they produce an acid that harms the tissue which then hardens. Finally, breathing becomes very difficult for the patient. Mesothelioma is a sort of cancer that affects the outer lung lining. There is presently no known cure for this disease. A person can get mesothelioma from being exposed to asbestos poisoning for only a very brief period or even accidentally, which is a major difference from asbestosis. More than 50 percent of all deaths from asbestos poisoning was evoked by asbestos-induced lung cancer. However, if the diagnosis is determined correctly and the patient commences the treatment early, he/she is quite likely to have an active life for many years after.

Asbestos in Canada: Canada used to be one of the most important asbestos producers and still supports its use in less dangerous variations and mines in Quebec are still operating. Nearly all office and public buildings or schools built before the 1980s used asbestos for thermal, fire and sound insulation. The people who were most ‘at risk’ were mostly the workers installing asbestos materials, especially in cases where health and safety instructions were ignored. Then the dust from the installation process could escape into the air and people were breathing in the poisonous toxins. Canada still hasn’t banned the use of asbestos. However, improvements have been made – Ontario banned using asbestos as insulation back in 1973. Local governments have been making an effort to get rid of this material from public buildings and any work that involves either installing or removing it is governed by very stringent regulations.

Asbestos in Toronto: What concerns asbestos in buildings, Ontario has very severe rules, especially since 2007. Landlords have to submit any strange material deteriorating in the building for examination. There are professional companies that can remove the asbestos safely, if its presence is found out. If it is found out that the deterioration might continue, the professionals will remove the whole affected area, again following strict safety rules.

The most common use of asbestos in non-domestic buildings: – insulation on pipes – ceiling tiles – panels boards – cement panels – sprayed coatings on walls – asbestos ropes and cloth – textures coating The most common use of asbestos in residential homes in Toronto: – exterior surfaces: deck undersheeting, roof felt and shingles, window putty – all kinds of insulation – flooring: vinyl asbestos sheets, tiles and undersheeting – interior surface: sprayed-on acoustic ceilings, acoustic tiles – appliances: water heaters, range hoods, clothes dryers and dishwashers A sufficient solution for the whole problem of asbestos hasn’t been discovered yet. We all still recall the Sunrise Propane blast from last year. Five streets were hit by asbestos debris and 3000 residents had to leave their homes until a complete and careful clear up of the area. Local governments are still fighting with the danger posed by asbestos. But it is very difficult to quantify how risky asbestos actually is. One of the reasons why it is so difficult is the fact that only 0.5% of asbestos in material is considered as poisonous.

Therefore, whenever you have even the smallest suspicion that your property may be affected, ask for a home inspection by a qualified professional (you can easily find list of companies doing it in Ontario region). Never try to deal with suspect material on your own!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Kinnear

The history of asbestos as we know it dates back 2000 years. It was the Greeks who named this mineral asbestos, meaning inextinguishable. The ancient Greeks observed the harmful biological effects but continued to use the mineral said to have magical properties. Pliny (Roman naturalist) and Strabo (Greek geographer) noted an appearance of “sickness of the lungs” in slaves who wove asbestos into cloth. The Greeks also used asbestos for the wicks of the eternal flames of the vestal virgins, as the funeral dress worn by kings and for napkins. They were so impressed with the magical properties of the mineral that they were willing to overlook its harmful symptoms for humans. They went as far as calling asbestos “amiantus”, meaning “unpolluted.

During the middle ages, it was believed that the Frankish king, Charlemagne had asbestos tablecloths. Asbestos products were used in the 1700 hundreds but did not really become popular until the late 1800′s. The industrial Revolution demanded new uses for the mineral. It was used as insulation for steam pipes, turbines, boilers, kilns, ovens, and other high-temperature products.

The history of asbestos use continued into the twentieth century and researchers began to investigate the harmful toxic affects. It was first noticed in 1917 and 1918 that a great number of young people in asbestos mining towns prematurely died. Researchers in England carried out clinical studies on asbestos workers in 1924, after the recorded death of a young woman who had been diagnosed with the new disease they called asbestosis. Twenty-five percent of the test subjects showed evidence of asbestos-related lung disease. Legislation was enacted in 1931, to increase ventilation and to recognize asbestosis a work-related disease.

The 1930′s brought in with it, the surge of major medical research articles, warning about the asbestos connection with lung cancer partially due to a new disease, silicosis, caused by in haling silica dust particles. Much of this research continued to be ignored. Large Asbestos companies continued to use asbestos in manufacturing and construction, despite that fact that safer alternatives such as fiberglass insulation were created to replace it. These companies hid their lung cancer findings to avoid the million dollar lawsuits brought upon them by asbestos cancer victims. The history of asbestos use and company profiteering has no doubt exploited asbestos workers then and now. Today, victims exposed to asbestos are faced with mesothelioma cancer and certain death.

What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the earth. It is strong, flexible, and resistant to heat, chemicals and electrical conditions.

Forms of Asbestos
The three most common forms of asbestos are divided into two groups. The serpentine group includes white (chrysotile) asbestos. The amphibole group includes brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite) asbestos.

Asbestos Properties
Asbestos has many properties that once made it attractive to industry. It is stable when heated, it provides strength under tension, it is resistant to chemicals and does not absorb water (depending on type of asbestos). Asbestos is suitable for weaving and can be used to reinforce materials such as concrete. And lastly, it is a good resistance to electricity.

Asbestos Categories
‘Bonded’ is used to refer to asbestos being so firmly embedded in a material that these materials are unlikely to release measurable levels of asbestos fiber into the air if they are left undisturbed. Therefore, they generally pose a lower risk to health.

Bonded asbestos-containing materials include asbestos cement products (flat and corrugated sheeting used in walls, ceilings and roofs, molded items such as down pipes), vinyl floor coverings.

‘Friable’ is used to refer to asbestos-containing materials that can be easily reduced to powder by hand, when dry. These materials are more likely to release measurable levels of asbestos into the air when disturbed, and generally pose a greater risk to health. Friable asbestos-containing materials include sprayed asbestos fire retardants

Asbestos Industry
In the past, the asbestos industry used around 3000 products manufactured worldwide, most commonly in the construction, car manufacturing and textile industries. It was generally manufactured in the following forms: fibrous (limpet asbestos), woven (cloth, tape or sleeving), wound (rope) or mixed with a binder, such as calcium silicate (to make asbestos cement or vinyl floor products containing asbestos).

Because of its strength and its ability to resist heat and chemicals, asbestos was used in a range of insulation materials.

Older commercial industrial buildings and private dwellings may contain a variety of asbestos products, such as asbestos-cement sheeting in walls and ceilings, or roof cladding made from corrugated asbestos-cement. Asbestos may be found in structures built as late as the mid- to late 1980s.

Asbestos Related Occupations
Asbestos has been used in association with a number of occupations such as the US military and armed forces, particularly the Navy. Massive amounts of asbestos were used in shipbuilding and commercial construction prior to the mid-1970′s.

Other workers in occupations which have been associated with asbestos use are:

Insulators, Pipe Fitters, Plumbers, Electricians, Painters, Crane Operators, Floor Coverers, Pot Tenders, Welders, Paper Mill Workers, Custodians, Steam Fitters, Tile Setters, Aerospace Workers, Mechanics, Building Engineers, Demolition Crews, Former US Navy Personnel, Packing/Gasket Manufacturing Workers, Protective Clothing Manufacturing, Rubber Workers, Warehouse Workers, Home Improvement, Hospitals, Schools, Loading Docks, Glass Factory Workers, Building Inspectors, Bulldozer Operators, Manufacturing Workers, Excavating machine operators, Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Job and Die setters, Contractors, Building Managers, Mixing Operatives, Laborers, Sawyers, Teachers, Tinsmiths, Weavers, Excavators, Technicians

Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Humans come into contact with asbestos when they swallow or inhale the fibers. These particles can then become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory or digestive systems.

Three Main Diseases Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Asbestosis
Asbestosis causes widespread scar tissue between the alveoli, or spread over the lung. It is difficult to distinguish from other causes of interstitial fibrosis. Only confirmation of exposure to asbestos or detection of unusually high numbers of asbestos fibers in the lung is considered conclusive evidence of this disease.

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a tumor of the chest lining, abdominal lining and occasionally the heart lining. Asbestos is not the only cause of this disease, but it is the most important cause in modern times. Crocidolite is the most important asbestos-related factor, but amosite, chrysotile and tremolite are also linked. This disease takes 20-50 years to appear, with the highest risk around 30-35 years after exposure. It is typically dose-related, but in rare cases has been known to occur in patients with little known occupational exposure to asbestos.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is relatively common among the general public and is the cancer most frequently associated with asbestos. Tumors grow and eventually obstruct airways. No characteristics specify a lung cancer as being caused by asbestos; we cannot distinguish a ‘cigarette’ lung cancer from an ‘asbestos’ lung cancer or ‘another’ lung cancer. Smoking increases the risk of death due to lung cancer for asbestos workers.

The history of asbestos and how it is has endangered human mortality has plagued different societies since ancient times. Throughout history must of these warnings have been ignored. Today, the use of asbestos is banned in the US and many other countries. This ban applies to manufacture, supply, storage, sale, use, reuse, installation and replacement of asbestos, except in special circumstances (e.g. removal and disposal of asbestos, and research work).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Casey