The resolution was a bipartisan effort widely lauded as an important movement toward safer buildings and workplaces.

“Each year, up to 40,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases while imports and use continue,” says Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) . “ADAO looks forward to the passage of this important annual awareness and prevention Resolution and sharing the U.S. Surgeon General’s asbestos warning. Undoubtedly, this week will raise awareness and save lives.”

Why Asbestos Awareness Week Is Important

Asbestos is a fire-resistant mineral frequently used in building materials. Although its use was limited in the 1980s, it continues to be present in many building components including ceiling tiles, floor tiles, insulation, and ceiling and wall textures.

Asbestos is relatively inert as long as the materials containing it remain in tact, but when disturbed, they release harmful fibers into the air. When breathed into the lungs, these fibers lodge themselves there and, according to the World Health Organization can cause:

• Lung cancer
• Cancer of the larynx
• Cancer of the ovaries
• Mesothelioma (cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings)

Disease symptoms can take up to 50 years to appear, but these diseases often kill victims within 12-24 months of symptoms developing.

Construction and renovation workers are particularly at risk of exposure, as their work often places them in contact with disturbed building materials. However, anyone in any occupation can become exposed if they are present during demolition activities, or if aging asbestos-containing materials in the building environment have deteriorated to the point of releasing their fibers into the air.

Even small DIY construction projects will sometimes disturb asbestos-containing materials, and many homeowners and business owners are unaware of the danger they may be exposing themselves to.

National Asbestos Awareness Week seeks to raise public consciousness of the dangers of asbestos exposure, and the situations in which exposure may occur. In this way, fewer people may become exposed and develop these devastating illnesses.

If you’d like to know more or to share information during Asbestos Awareness Week with your network, please peruse our library of valuable asbestos-related resources, which includes:

What You Need to Know About Asbestos In Buildings
5 Reasons to Perform a Hazardous Materials Assessment Before Purchasing a Property
CDC Reports the Deadly Asbestos Crisis is Still in Full Swing
How Much Does it Cost to Test for Asbestos ?
How Much Does Asbestos Remediation Cost ?
The Deadly Consequences of Asbestos After a Natural Disaster
The Secret Killer of the Ringling Brothers Mansion (spoiler: it was asbestos)

We’re proud of our long history of asbestos advocacy as well as our expertise in testing, planning, and overseeing asbestos remediation. We’d love to talk with you before your next property purchase or renovation to help ensure you and your workers stay safe. Call us today.