Asbestos Expert

Asbestos, a group of minerals known for their resistance to chemicals and heat, finds its application in various construction materials such as roof shingles, insulation, and automotive parts. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a highly fatal cancer with no known cure. Inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers is the primary cause of exposure. Once these fibers enter the body, they affect the mesothelium tissues, a thin layer covering internal organs. The type of mesothelioma one develops depends on the location of the cancer. The most common type is Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma, affecting the lungs. Another type, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, affects the abdominal tissues and can also occur near the testicles and heart. Each type of mesothelioma presents different symptoms. Pleural Mesothelioma symptoms include chest lumps, difficulty breathing, weight loss, and chest pain during coughing. Peritoneal Mesothelioma symptoms include weight loss, abdominal lumps, and pain and swelling in the abdominal area. Pericardial Mesothelioma causes chest pain and breathing difficulties, while Mesothelioma of the testicles leads to swelling or the presence of a mass in the testicles. If any of these symptoms occur, it is crucial to consult a doctor and seek legal advice from an asbestos lawyer to understand the available legal options. Asbestos lawyers possess extensive knowledge and experience in medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability laws, making them essential in pursuing legal action against the responsible companies. Airborne asbestos fibers, particularly during insulation removal or mining activities, pose a significant health risk when inhaled. These fibers can become lodged in the stomach or lungs, causing immediate coughing to expel some fibers, but most settle and eventually develop into mesothelioma. In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos exposure can also lead to asbestosis, a severe lung disease that is not cancerous. Inhaling asbestos fibers damages lung tissues, resulting in scarring, difficulty breathing, and reduced oxygen intake into the bloodstream. Symptoms of asbestosis include a dry sound in the lungs upon inhalation and shortness of breath. Individuals working in mining, construction, or auto repair industries face a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, asbestosis may not always be treatable on a permanent basis.

Home Mortgage

Prior knowledge and information about home mortgages is crucial before diving into this financial commitment. Unlike previous loans, a home mortgage should not be taken lightly or mishandled. The current high rate of foreclosures serves as a warning against entering into a home mortgage without proper understanding.

When renting a property, the responsibility for repairs and maintenance lies with the property manager. However, as a homeowner, you will now be accountable for any damages that occur on your property. The location of the home you wish to purchase will also impact the fees involved, especially if it is situated in an upscale community surrounded by mansions or condos.

Before making a decision, it is essential to evaluate whether buying a home is financially viable. Factors such as interest rates, closing costs, and other expenses can significantly increase the overall amount. If the mortgage becomes too burdensome, any future setbacks may make it difficult to afford. The high number of home foreclosures in recent years is evidence of this.

To navigate the financial aspects of a home mortgage, consider the following finance tips:

1. Large Down Payment: Opt for a substantial down payment, exceeding the minimum requirement. This will result in a lower interest rate and mortgage, making monthly payments more manageable. Conversely, a low down payment will provide minimal equity and lead to higher interest rates, potentially putting you in a precarious financial situation if unexpected circumstances arise.

2. Additional Debt Consideration: Remember that a home mortgage adds to your existing bills, such as utilities, car payments, phone bills, health insurance, and car insurance. Assessing your ability to afford this additional financial burden is crucial.

3. Credit Score: Your credit score plays a significant role in determining the interest rate you will receive when applying for a loan. Maintaining a good credit score before purchasing a home is essential. Timely mortgage payments will also help avoid the risk of foreclosure. Setting up automatic bill payments through your bank account ensures timely payments as long as sufficient funds are available.

4. Refinancing: Refinancing should only be considered if it results in lower interest rates compared to your previous mortgage. Instead, focus on paying off your mortgage debt as quickly as possible. Consider obtaining a smaller loan amount that can be repaid within 20 years. If there are no prepayment penalties, make additional payments whenever possible.

Many young adults and teenagers dream of attending college, getting married, and buying a home. However, they often underestimate the amount of debt they will accumulate. Research shows that the average college graduate carries over $26,000 in student loan debt. Adding a mortgage to this burden can worsen their financial situation. Understanding the costs associated with homeownership is crucial to avoid excessive debt.

Mortgage interest rates currently average around 4.4 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Homeowners must also consider property taxes, homeowner's insurance costs, and the required down payment. Additionally, many mortgage companies may require mortgage insurance.

In conclusion, acquiring knowledge and information about home mortgages is essential before embarking on this financial journey. Understanding the potential risks and costs associated with homeownership will help you make informed decisions and avoid falling into excessive debt.

Auto Insurance

When applying for auto insurance, your personal history is divided into two distinct categories by the insurance company in order to assess your driving capabilities. The first category comprises factors that you can influence, such as marital status, occupation, credit score (which they will check if you don't know it), and whether you rent or own your home. If you have a clean driving record and meet certain criteria like being married, having a high credit score, long-term employment, and homeownership, you are likely to receive a low and affordable insurance quote. 

The second category focuses on age and gender. Unfortunately, customers under the age of 25 are considered high-risk due to statistics showing that young people tend to drive carelessly and recklessly. However, it is worth noting that this age bracket extends up to 25, even though individuals aged 22 to 25 may not exhibit the same level of recklessness as teenagers. Additionally, there has been a discrepancy in rates between males and females in recent years, with studies indicating that males generally pay more for auto insurance. The reasons behind this disparity remain a question that many males are eager to have answered. 

When the insurance company asks about your residence and workplace, it is to determine where you typically park your car. This information helps assess the risk of theft or break-ins based on the crime rate in your area. If you live in a high-crime area, your insurance rate may increase slightly to account for the higher likelihood of filing a claim due to theft or vandalism. On the other hand, if you have a garage or live in a secure community with off-street parking, the risk of theft or damage decreases, resulting in lower insurance rates. 

Numerous factors contribute to determining your auto insurance rate, including the type of car you drive, your driving record, personal information, and parking habits. Additional factors include the coverage you choose and your deductibles. Furthermore, if you have a history of driving under the influence, expect your insurance rates to rise. The make, model, and year of your vehicle also play a role, as some cars are more expensive to insure or are targeted by thieves more frequently, making them higher-risk. Cars with superior safety features and protection for passengers generally have lower insurance rates. Repair costs can also impact your rates, as some vehicles have pricier parts. Moreover, owning a high-horsepower car may increase your insurance rates, as it is perceived as a higher risk for accidents. 

Having previous car accidents, regardless of fault, will likely result in higher insurance rates. Similarly, moving violations indicate a higher risk of accidents and can lead to increased rates, as they suggest a reckless driving pattern. If you have none of these factors on your record, you can expect lower insurance rates compared to individuals who do. To validate this, ask someone with these factors about their insurance rate, and they will likely tell you it is significantly higher.

Asbestos Details

What is Asbestos? Asbestos refers to a group of naturally-occurring fibrous minerals, consisting of six different types. A "fibre" is defined as a particle that is longer than 5 micrometres (μm) and has a length to width ratio of at least 3:1.

Regulations: Canadian regulations also specify that asbestos fibres must be less than 3 μm wide.

Details:

Based on their physical and chemical properties, asbestos can be classified into two major groups: serpentine and amphibole.

Serpentine: Serpentine fibres are long, flexible, and curved. These fibres can be woven together. The main type of serpentine asbestos is chrysotile (white asbestos), which is commonly used in manufacturing.

Amphibole: Amphibole fibres are straight and stiff. These fibres are generally brittle and have a rod- or needle-like shape, limiting their commercial usefulness. There are five sub-types of amphibole asbestos, including crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite.

What is covered in this document?

This document is part of a series of documents on asbestos, including:

Asbestos - What is it?

Asbestos - Health Effects

Asbestos - Control Strategies for Workplaces

Asbestos - In the Home

Where is asbestos found in Canada?

Asbestos is found in large natural deposits or as contaminants in other minerals. For example, tremolite asbestos can be found in deposits of chrysotile, vermiculite, and talc. Historically, a significant portion of the world's asbestos production was concentrated in southern Quebec, known as the "Serpentine Belt."

Where was asbestos used?

Asbestos was widely used in various manufactured products due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. Before 1990, it was commonly used for insulating buildings, fireproofing, and noise reduction. Industries, construction, and commercial sectors used asbestos in products such as building materials, friction materials, industrial furnaces, textiles, insulation, and more.

Why was asbestos used in so many products?

Asbestos possesses properties that make it resistant to heat, fire, chemicals, and biological breakdown. It does not dissolve in water or evaporate. These properties, along with its wear and friction characteristics, tensile strength, and insulation capabilities, made asbestos commercially desirable for a wide range of products.

What are the concerns about asbestos?

Asbestos is a friable material, meaning it can crumble, pulverize, and release small fibres and dust into the air when dry. Inhalation of asbestos fibres during manufacturing or use poses significant health risks. Long-term exposure to asbestos has been linked to diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. However, if materials containing asbestos are tightly bound, in good condition, sealed, isolated, or left undisturbed, the health risks are minimal.

Where is asbestos banned?

Asbestos has been entirely banned in 39 countries since 1983, including the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Croatia, and Saudi Arabia. Other countries have imposed severe restrictions or are phasing out its use. In the United States, all new uses of asbestos were banned in 1989, and Canada announced a commitment to ban asbestos and asbestos-containing products by 2018.

What are the international hazard ratings for asbestos?

In Canadian workplaces, asbestos is classified under the WHMIS 1988 as "D2A - Poisonous and infectious material - Other effects - Very toxic." It is also classified as carcinogenic by organizations such as the International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), US National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the European Union (EU).

Asbestos Dangers

The Awareness of Asbestos and Its Hazards

The dangers of asbestos are now widely recognized, but this was not always the case. One of the potential health risks associated with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer. While asbestos use is restricted in the United States today, it is not completely banned and can still be found in many older buildings and ships.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of minerals, although many people often refer to it as a single mineral. This group includes six different fibrous substances: amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. These silicate-based substances are made of silicon and oxygen and consist of bundles of long, thin fibers that can be easily separated.

Asbestos has been mined for centuries and has been used for various purposes. It is known for its strength, sound absorption, heat and fire resistance, electrical resistance, and resistance to corrosive chemicals. Additionally, asbestos is abundant and inexpensive. While asbestos has been used for thousands of years, its widespread mining and use did not reach its peak until the 1800s.

Different Types of Asbestos

Chrysotile asbestos, also known as "white asbestos," has long curly fibers and is commonly used in construction. Other asbestos minerals have shorter, needle-like fibers. Crocidolite, known as "blue asbestos," is the most dangerous type due to its fine and sharp fibers. It has been used in tiles, insulation, cement, and other materials, particularly on ships. Amosite, referred to as "brown asbestos," is also considered more harmful than chrysotile due to its small, sharp fibers. Approximately 5% of asbestos used in construction in the U.S. is brown asbestos.

Asbestos can also be classified as friable or non-friable, depending on how it is used. Friable asbestos can easily crumble, releasing dangerous fibers into the air. Non-friable asbestos is well encapsulated and less likely to become airborne, making it safer.

The History of Asbestos in the United States

Asbestos has been used in the United States since the late 1800s, particularly during the Industrial Revolution when there was a boom in its use in construction and shipbuilding. It was mixed into cement for added strength, used in insulation and fireproofing materials, and extensively applied on ships for insulation and sound absorption.

Today, asbestos can still be found in old ceiling tiles, floor tiles, glues, plastics, vermiculite gardening products, paints, coatings, brake shoes, clutch pads, and various construction materials. In the 1970s, the use of asbestos was restricted in the United States, and several federal agencies have since banned or restricted its use. However, complete bans have been overturned, and certain asbestos-containing materials are still in use.

The Use of Asbestos Today

While many industrialized countries have completely banned asbestos, the United States has limited its use to certain products. These include cement pipes, gaskets, roof coatings, drum brake linings, disk brake pads, components in automatic transmissions, mill board, vinyl floor tiles, fireproof clothing, corrugated cement sheets, roofing felt, and more.

Exposure to Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos occurs when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled or ingested. The tiny fibers can become dust and settle on surfaces, posing a risk to anyone in the vicinity. Materials containing asbestos must have the fibers well encapsulated to prevent them from becoming friable. However, if these materials are damaged, asbestos can be released into the air, leading to exposure.

The main danger of asbestos exposure is the fibers becoming lodged in body tissue, causing long-term damage, inflammation, and potentially serious health conditions that may manifest years after initial exposure. The lungs are particularly susceptible to fiber lodging, resulting in respiratory illnesses and cancers.

All types of asbestos are known human carcinogens, increasing the risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Exposure to asbestos may also elevate the risk of other cancers, including gastrointestinal, colorectal, throat, kidney, gallbladder, and esophageal cancers.

Understanding Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the thin tissue layers surrounding organs, known as the mesothelium. The most common type affects the lining around the lungs, called the pleura, but it can also occur in the abdomen, around the heart, and in the testicles. Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma, although not everyone exposed will develop the disease. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its later stages, making it difficult to treat and often resulting in a poor prognosis.

Asbestosis and Other Factors

Asbestosis is a progressive disease caused by asbestos exposure, leading to scarring of lung tissue. It can cause breathing difficulties, chronic cough, chest tightness, and pain. Asbestosis scarring cannot be reversed or healed and tends to worsen over time. However, certain treatments can provide temporary relief from symptoms and improve breathing.

In addition to asbestos exposure, other factors can increase the risk of asbestos-related illnesses. Smoking tobacco significantly raises the risk of developing lung cancer. The dose and duration of asbestos exposure are also important factors, with higher amounts and longer exposure periods increasing the risk. The different types of asbestos, with blue and brown being more dangerous than white, also play a role. Genetic factors may also contribute to the risk in some cases.

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure and Related Illnesses?

While everyone exposed to asbestos carries some degree of risk, most individuals do not face significant concerns. However, those who have breathed contaminated air over an extended period are at a higher risk of developing illnesses. Individuals repeatedly exposed to asbestos for many years, such as miners, construction workers, shipbuilders, factory workers producing asbestos-containing materials, firefighters, autoworkers, and others, face the greatest risk. Members of the United States Navy who served on ships for decades were also exposed to asbestos. Additionally, rescue workers and individuals in the vicinity of the World Trade Center attacks were exposed to asbestos. Second-hand exposure is also a concern, as family members of workers may have been affected by fibers brought home on clothing. While regulations have reduced the risk in these professions, some residual risk remains. Even individuals who do not work directly with asbestos can be exposed, particularly in older homes where asbestos fibers may be present. Remodeling projects can lead to exposure, but professionals trained in asbestos abatement can safely remove or encapsulate asbestos in homes.