Building Experts Warn Residents of Puerto Rico to be Aware of Asbestos Hazards

Up until the late 1970s, many different types of building products and materials commonly used in residential and commercial buildings contained asbestos.  Today, many of these properties still contain these materials that could be causing a health threat to any building occupants.
 
As these materials age or become disturbed, asbestos fibers can be released into the air. Exposure to asbestos fibers is known to cause serious health hazards including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.  As a result, there have been hundreds of thousands of liability claims or suits related to asbestos exposure which have resulted in the payment of tens of billions of dollars in legal judgments and/or settlement penalty damages. 
 
“Even though it is widely known that asbestos is a carcinogen, not all asbestos uses are banned today,” reports Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental.  “Asbestos can still be found in some new materials and is widely found in older properties in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean”
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides the following advice to the public, “You can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples yourself is not recommended.”
 
In order to obtain a General Consolidated Permit in Puerto Rico, a certificate that states that there is no asbestos in the project is required. Zimmetry provides full compliance with all asbestos regulations to protect people’s health and to prevent costly non-compliance violations. 
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their asbestos, indoor air quality, environmental and compliance consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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