IAQ Experts at Clark Seif Clark Discuss Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs or the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers many of the organs found there.
 
Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in a variety of manufactured goods and building construction materials in the past.  Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of these asbestos-containing materials during product use, demolition work, building or maintenance projects, repair and remodeling activities. 
 
Although many people think that the use of asbestos has been banned, there are still materials that can legally contain it.  In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under Section 6 of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) banning most asbestos-containing products. In 1991, this rule was vacated and remanded by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, most of the original ban on the manufacture, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce for the majority of the asbestos-containing products originally covered in the 1989 final rule was overturned.  It is important that people realize that although the use of asbestos is banned in some products due to regulations such as TSCA, the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Consumer Product Safety Act, there are still products that can legally contain asbestos. 
 
“Malignant mesothelioma can take years to form after someone is exposed to asbestos,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark.  “Today, exposure is most likely to occur if asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged in some way.  At CSC, we provide testing and consulting services to determine which materials contain asbestos and to help manage the risk for our clients.”
 
CSC recently sponsored an educational video about malignant mesothelioma and asbestos that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/lEyopPp9Ck4
 
To learn more about asbestos or other environmental, health and safety issues and testing services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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