Perhaps you’re ready to take down a wall in your home, or perhaps you found your commercial property flooded as a result of the latest tropical system.
Regardless of how the damage occurred, one thing is for certain: the structural damage has compromised the integrity of the building, thereby potentially exposing you to degraded, friable asbestos.
And if you live in Alabama or Florida, you might be wondering what you need to know next.
Assessing Asbestos in Alabama
Residents of Alabama are no strangers to respiratory conditions as, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), chronic lower respiratory conditions are the third-leading cause of death within the state. This death rate is led by cancer, however, which is the second-leading cause of death.
And how many of those cases might be asbestos-related?
After all, according to the EWG Action Fund, an estimated 3,845 asbestos-related deaths were recorded in the State of Alabama between the years of 1999 and 2017, with Jefferson County and Mobile County featuring 500+ deaths each in that time period.
Thus, one might ask: Is Alabama doing enough to mitigate the harm asbestos causes? Well, not necessarily.
“Alabama does not have a federally approved occupational safety and health regulatory program,” as reported by BLR. “Consequently, federal occupational safety and health standards for asbestos govern private sector workplaces in the state. There are no state or federal laws that govern workplace safety and health in public sector workplaces in the state.”
That being said, if you suspect you may be at risk of harmful asbestos exposure in your home or commercial workplace, it’s of the utmost importance that you hire a credible asbestos expert to conduct a professional investigation on your behalf.
Finding Friable Materials in Florida
“Asbestos does not occur naturally in Florida, but large amounts of it were shipped to the state and even more contaminated products were used commercially in construction and other industries,” the Mesothelioma Center reports. “According to records, at least 109,949 tons of asbestos were shipped from Libby, Montana, for processing in five Florida cities: Boca Raton, Jacksonville, Pompano Beach, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.”
Accordingly, the counties of Duval, Pinellas, Palm Beach, and Broward have all reported asbestos-related death tolls exceeding 500 — if not exceeding 1,000 — between 1999 and 2017.
What’s more, with Florida’s regular exposure to hazardous hurricanes that batter buildings with heavy rain and high-grade winds, asbestos exposure becomes increasingly likely every year.
Thus, you don’t just want to undergo asbestos testing if you’re a Floridian with a renovation on the horizon; rather, you’ll also want to invest in it if your home has been subject to flooding or other forms of structural damage.
The only question left, then, is who you’ll call for a reliable assessment.
Cut Yourself Loose When You Call Luce
Regardless of whether you live in Alabama or Florida, you have one thing certain (besides asbestos exposure): Luce Air Quality is certified to provide the asbestos testing you need to put your mind at ease!
Our process is thorough and reliable, as we not only inspect and identify both the type of locations of the present asbestos, but we will also provide you with comprehensive reports according to regional standards and regulations.
And if you’ve already undergone a removal process? Not to worry — we can also verify the efficacy of the job so that you can be certain the asbestos is gone.
So, are you ready to learn more? Then contact Luce Air Quality today by calling 904-803-1014! As your local indoor environmental experts, you can rest assured we offer results you can trust.