Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in rock and soil. Due to its insulating and fire-retardant values, asbestos is widely used in building construction materials and an extensive range of manufactured materials in West Virginia and throughout the United States.
When disturbed or damaged, tiny or microscopic asbestos fibers and particles are released into the air. These cannot be seen. Exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung disease, and other serious and fatal health conditions. It is virtually impossible to know if a material contains asbestos unless it is labeled. The only way to know if the air you are breathing contains asbestos is to have your property tested.
Asbestos is a soft yet strong, heat-resistant, fibrous silicate material. Most (~95%) of world asbestos production consists of the white asbestiform varieties of Chrysotile (a.k.a. “serpentine” or “white asbestos”). Other sources include crocidolite (a.k.a. “riebeckite”), amosite (a.k.a. “cummingtonite grunerite”), anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite.
No. Except for very limited cases where its use is banned, asbestos continues to be widely used in the manufacture of many types of consumer products.
Asbestos fibers are commonly found in many materials used to construct houses, building, and structures, of all types, as well as automobiles and many consumer products. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed due to product use, renovation, maintenance, repair, and other household activities, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air.
Yes. Most homes contain asbestos, whether new or old. In fact, you are most likely to get your greatest asbestos exposure at home because that is where you spend most of your time.
Asbestos may be found virtually anywhere:
Exterior Surfaces: window putty, roof felt, shingles, roofing & siding materials, mastics, automobile brakes & clutches, and cement asbestos board siding
Interior Surfaces: sprayed on textured & “popcorn” acoustic ceilings, wall and ceiling plaster, attic and wall insulation made with vermiculite, textured paint, patching compounds, heat reflectors (woodstoves), heat-resistant fabrics, and acoustic tiles
Heating & Ventilation: heat source coverings, door and cover gaskets, hot water & steam pipe insulation, asbestos blanket & tape, walls and floors near wood-burning stoves and appliances, asbestos paper, millboard, cement sheets, oil & coal furnaces, door gaskets with asbestos insulation, and air duct covering
Flooring: sheet vinyl, tile, backing, adhesives, and mastics
The above list does not include every product or material that may contain asbestos. It is intended to show general representative examples of the various types of materials that may contain asbestos – and how extensive the use of asbestos may be throughout West Virginia homes and buildings.
You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. Yet, asbestos may still be a problem in your home. Contact us to schedule an asbestos test to determine if asbestos is present in your home or business.
Before performing any renovation or demolition work: your home or building must be inspected for asbestos by a licensed WV asbestos inspector
If your home’s air contains asbestos, simply breathing the contaminated indoor air increases your risk of getting lung cancer. If you plan to do any work which may disturb the materials of your home or any man-made structure or building, you are legally required to have the property inspected, tested, and certified by a licensed asbestos inspector before the project can begin. Contact Appalachian Environmental Testing & Consulting for professionally licensed asbestos sampling, testing, inspection, and asbestos certification. You should also call us for testing if you suspect damaged products or materials in your home, such as crumbling drywall, may contain asbestos.
No. When performed by non-trained, non-accredited, non-licensed personnel, the sampling process to test for radon can be more dangerous than leaving the material undisturbed. This is due to an unacceptably high risk of releasing hazardous asbestos fibers into the air.
While there are many home improvement projects you can safely perform yourself, leave asbestos testing to the pros.
If asbestos is found in your home or business, Appalachian Environmental Testing & Consulting can provide advice, recommendations, and referrals for professional asbestos management such as sealing, encapsulation, covering, and enclosure by a trained asbestos repair and removal contractor. We can also follow-up with all your future asbestos testing needs.
Yes:
We want you to have the information you need about asbestos so you can make the best decisions for your health. We encourage you to explore the asbestos resources below. Contact us for quality asbestos sampling, testing, and inspection services to help protect yourself and those you love from this silent, invisible killer.
At Appalachian Environmental Testing & Consulting (AETC), our well-qualified asbestos inspector and technicians are fully trained, certified, licensed, and well-equipped to provide accurate asbestos sampling and testing. We help homeowners, schools, medical facilities, and businesses of all types throughout our north-central West Virginia service area enjoy cleaner, healthier, safer indoor air. We think you will find that our extensive education, training, experience, and expertise sets us apart as West Virginia’s Premier Asbestos Inspector. We invite you to explore our full range of inspection and remediation services. Contact us for quality you can rely on. Call us at (304) 613-6999.
Multifamily Home & Apartment Complex Asbestos Testing
Residential Home Asbestos Testing
School, University & Educational Facility Asbestos Testing
Commercial Business Asbestos Testing
Municipal & Government Building Asbestos Testing
Licensed Asbestos Inspector
West Virginia Asbestos Program
National Radon Safety Board Certified Radon Measurement Specialist – WV State Licensed Radon Tester – WV Radon Specialist – WV Radon Measurement Specialist – WV Radon Tester – WV Radon Inspector
Home Buyer’s & Seller’s Guide to Radon provided courtesy of
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
How to Submit Asbestos Demolition Notification Form
Appalachian Environmental Testing & Consulting is a Veteran-owned Business.