ABSTRACT

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was valued since ancient times for its resistance to heat and flame. There are six known asbestos minerals, as follows: Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and Actinolite. Serpentine asbestiforms tend to get lodged predominantly in the upper respiratory pathways. Amphibole asbestiforms are generally recognized as more hazardous to human health than chrysotile. There are three known asbestos-related diseases: asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) protocols became the norm for virtually all commercial properties. In addition, many states and some cities have their own asbestos abatement regulations, which, by law, must be at least as stringent as or more stringent than the federal laws. The AHERA developed the concept of a functional space to simplify the inspection and the grouping of homogeneous materials. The AHERA provide the investigator considerable latitude in defining functional spaces.