Global Asbestos Awareness Week Reminds Homeowners of Health Risks

EMSL Analytical offers asbestos testing solutions to help prevent needless exposure to their deadly fibers.

Cinnaminson, NJ

In February of this year, Senator Max Baucus introduced legislation which passed the Senate declaring the first week of April to be National Asbestos Awareness Week. This coincides with the Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) that occurs on those same dates.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the Earth. In the past it was regularly added to building products to increase strength and corrosion resistance as well as to provide insulation and fire resistance. The use of asbestos was banned from most products in the United States in the 1980s, but many older building materials still remain.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “It is estimated that currently about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. According to WHO estimates, more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures. One in every three deaths from occupational cancer is estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousands of deaths can be attributed annually to exposure to asbestos in the living environment.”

One of the largest asbestos testing laboratories in the United States is EMSL Analytical, Inc. The laboratory has been providing asbestos analyses since 1981 and currently operates over 30 laboratories across the United States and Canada. “The special recognition that asbestos is receiving in the United States and around the world is an important reminder to millions of homeowners across the country that have asbestos containing materials in them,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical. “Asbestos is regularly found in everything from insulation to floor tiles and whenever the fibers become aerosolized they can create a deadly health hazard. Fast and affordable testing solutions exist to determine which materials contain asbestos,” he continued.

To learn more about asbestos or other environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services please visit www.AsbestosTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email: info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail