Asbestos is a hazardous air pollutant
Asbestos is a common, naturally-occurring mineral that was widely used in building materials in homes, offices, stores, restaurants, schools, factories, and public buildings.
Most often asbestos is found in certain building materials rather than in specific types of businesses. Common places are identified in the house diagram on the right. These are the same materials you’ll find in apartment buildings, offices, restaurants, retail stores and many older commercial and industrial sites.
Asbestos-containing materials that are intact and not disturbed generally do not pose a health risk. The danger comes when asbestos-containing materials are damaged, sanded, cut, demolished, or otherwise disturbed and fibers become airborne and inhaled. For most intact materials it is recommend that they be managed in place and maintained, unless work will disturb them.
Asbestos is classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is the reason why demolition and renovation projects must comply with certain asbestos requirements that are enforced in Spokane County by Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
FAQs for property owners affected by the Oregon Road and Gray wildfires.
Asbestos – What is it? Should I be concerned?
In the United States, 12,000 to 15,000 people die every year from asbestos related diseases. The latency period from exposure to asbestos fibers to disease onset is anywhere from ten to forty years. Asbestos is still present in homes and buildings, therefore it is important to your health to understand what asbestos is and where it is commonly found, and how it can become airborne.