Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Exposure Risks in the United States

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 125 million workers across the globe are exposed to asbestos in the workplace and about half the deaths from occupational cancer are likely caused by exposure to it. The agency also shares the fact that some asbestos-related deaths are also due to exposure in the home.
 
It has long been recognized that asbestos can cause a number of diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. To raise awareness of this preventable threat, the first week of April is recognized as Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW).
 
“Asbestos is with us now and for the foreseeable future. So too are the hazards asbestos presents. Older buildings often contain dozens of products that contain asbestos fibers. Even buildings built today can contain asbestos,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Asbestos bans are not what people think. Asbestos restrictions on consumer products and building materials are extremely limited. But, even if asbestos uses were to be completely banned tomorrow, it would not resolve the dangers posed by the existing stock of residential, commercial and institutional properties constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos in both old and new buildings poses a threat of inhalation exposure to workers and bystanders. Disease risk increase as these materials naturally deteriorate, are damaged during building use, or are disturbed by demolition or renovation activities. This is why the efforts of Global Asbestos Awareness Week are still so important.”
 
To help protect workers, the public, and to keep companies and institutions in regulatory compliance with asbestos regulations, Clark Seif Clark’s industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) professionals provide asbestos sampling and consulting services to identify and mitigate exposure risks. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about Global Asbestos Awareness Week that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CBv3JSJXVdQ
 
To learn more about asbestos or other environmental, health and safety consulting 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 IAQ, environmental, 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.
 

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Paul Cochrane

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