Following substances are considered as Hazardous waste and their treatment/abatement is must when they reach a certain level:
- ASBESTOS
- ACRYLONITRILE
- ARSENIC
- BENZENE
- COKE OVEN EMISSIONS
- ETHYLENE OXIDE
- ISOCYANATES
- LEAD
- MERCURY
- SILICA
- VINYL CHLORIDE
Asbestos is the most common substance present in a building and has very adverse effects on human health. Removal of Asbestos is very important and must be done with precision.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. Asbestos is divided into two mineral groups: Serpentine and Amphibole. The division between the two types of asbestos is based upon the crystalline structure. The fibers of asbestos are long and thin, easily distinguishable when compared with non-asbestos minerals. The construction industry has been using asbestos for many years because of the ability of asbestos to withstand high temperatures as well as its strength and resistance to corrosive chemicals.
In general, if the following materials were installed prior to the mid-1980s, they should be assumed to contain asbestos. Otherwise, the material should be tested by a lab in accordance with the methods set out in Ontario Reg. 278/05.
- Pipe and boiler insulation
- Vermiculite used as attic insulation
- Sprayed-on fireproofing
- Ceiling tiles and popcorn ceiling
- Floor tiles (asphalt, vinyl, or sheet vinyl and the paper underlay and mastic)
- Roofing shingles and felts
- Electrical panel components
- Gaskets
- Cement products such as siding on a home or building or pipe
- Asphalt
- Caulking
- Plaster (textured or smooth)
- Drywall joint compound
Two classes of asbestos products were widely used. The first includes materials easily crumbled or loose in composition such as spray-fireproofing. These are referred to as “friable.” The second type includes materials that are much more durable because they are held together by a binder such as cement, vinyl, or asphalt. These products are termed “non-friable.”
There are six types of asbestos generally recognized:
- Chrysotile (serpentine)
- Crocidolite
- Amosite
- Actinolite
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
Chrysotile asbestos is characterized by long wavy fibres that are white or off-white. Amosite is often called “brown” asbestos and has much straighter, shorter and sharper fibres than chrysotile. Crocidolite is referred to as “blue” asbestos and has long straight fibres much like amosite. Chrysotile is by far the most common type of asbestos found in Ontario. Within the amphibole family, only amosite and crocidolite have had significant commercial use. Some studies show that fibres such as amosite and crocidolite (amphiboles) stay in the lungs longer than chrysotile fibres (serpentine). This tendency may account for the greater toxicity (harmfulness) of amphibole fibres.
When asbestos-containing material is disturbed dust is released into the air that contains asbestos fibers that have the potential to be inhaled into the lungs. Depending on the size of the individual fibers inhaled, some fibers can make their way deep into the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. Exposure to asbestos fibers may result in scarring of the lung tissue (asbestosis), cancer of the chest cavity (mesothelioma) or other asbestos related cancers. A person exposed to asbestos may feel no ill effects at the time of exposure. The time period between exposure to asbestos fibres and the development of disease can range from 15 to 55 years. This is known as the latency period.
Following are the three Types of operations that can used to remove asbestos. Each Type has its own removal and require different specialization.
Asbestos Removal- Type 1 (Low Risk)
Asbestos Removal- Type 2 (Medium Risk)
Asbestos Removal- Type 3 (High Risk)
Ontario Ministry of Labor has provided us with the measures and procedures for Type 1, 2, and 3 Operations and it can be found
here
. Which type must be used for what kind of asbestos removal is very necessary to know. Infrastructure Health and Safety Association has provided the information on this and can be found
here
.