Chrysotile and Other Forms of Asbestos Still a Threat in Homes, Schools and Businesses

Throughout the United States, chrysotile is one of the most commonly found forms of asbestos. It is just one of six asbestos and asbestiform minerals that regulatory agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), recognize and regulate. In addition to chrysotile, the other regulated forms of asbestos include actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite and tremolite.
 
According to OSHA, approximately 95% of the asbestos encountered by abatement workers in the United States is chrysotile. It is also commonly referred to as white asbestos or serpentine asbestos. While some health experts consider exposure to other forms of asbestos to be more dangerous than chrysotile, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have classified chrysotile as a known human carcinogen.  The major health effects associated with exposure include lung cancer; mesothelioma, a form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest and the abdomen and heart; and asbestosis, a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.
 
“For over a century, chrysotile and the other forms of asbestos were used extensively in thousands of building materials and manufactured goods,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “While most of these products have been phased out over the past several decades, they can still be found in countless properties ranging from homes and schools to office buildings, factories and even ships.”
 
Working to protect families and employees from the hazards associated with asbestos exposure are the industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality experts at CSC. Their professionals provide asbestos testing and consulting services to identify and mitigate exposure risks while helping companies adhere to asbestos regulations to avoid costly noncompliance penalties. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about chrysotile that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/8mSVCJMD_E4
 
To learn more about asbestos or other environmental, health, occupational, indoor air quality, and safety testing and consulting issues, 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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