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Asbestos: Difference between revisions
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[[Category: Tonnage & Waste Types]] | [[Category: Tonnage & Waste Types]] | ||
[[Asbestos]] is a group of six naturally occuring minerals made up of heat resistant fibres<ref name="asb">[https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/]</ref>. Asbestos fibres do not dissolve in water or evaporate, they are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation and are mechanically strong<ref name="gov">[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information]</ref>. | [[Asbestos]] is a group of six naturally occuring minerals made up of heat resistant fibres<ref name="asb">[https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/]</ref>. Asbestos fibres do not dissolve in water or evaporate, they are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation and are mechanically strong<ref name="gov">[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information]</ref>. | ||
[[File:Asbestos waste.jpg|left]] | |||
==Introduction<ref name="asb" />== | ==Introduction<ref name="asb" />== | ||
Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective insulator, and it can be added to [[Textiles|cloth]], [[paper]], [[Cement Kiln|cement]], [[plastic]] and other materials to make them stronger. Yet when [[asbestos]] dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibres can become permanently trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped [[asbestos]] fibres can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage. Exposure to [[asbestos]] can cause cancer and other health conditions. A rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis. | Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective insulator, and it can be added to [[Textiles|cloth]], [[paper]], [[Cement Kiln|cement]], [[plastic]] and other materials to make them stronger. Yet when [[asbestos]] dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibres can become permanently trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped [[asbestos]] fibres can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage. Exposure to [[asbestos]] can cause cancer and other health conditions. A rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis. | ||
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The importation, supply and use of all asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999; the amhibole type has been banned since 1985<ref name="gov" />. Prior to use being banned, [[asbestos]] was used in many products including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes, car brakes, floor tiles and in 'artex' wall and ceiling decoration. | The importation, supply and use of all asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999; the amhibole type has been banned since 1985<ref name="gov" />. Prior to use being banned, [[asbestos]] was used in many products including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes, car brakes, floor tiles and in 'artex' wall and ceiling decoration. | ||
Solid and fibrous asbestos occurs in a variety of differing forms which need to be managed by different means according to its risk; not all asbestos materials present the same risk i.e. the measures that need to be taken for controlling the risks from materials sush as pipe insulation are different from those needed in relation to asbestos cement<ref name="HSEDTY">[https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/duty.htm/ HSE]</ref>. | |||
==Types of Asbestos<ref>[https://www.nationalasbestos.co.uk/types-of-asbestos/ National Asbestos Helpline]</ref>== | ==Types of Asbestos<ref>[https://www.nationalasbestos.co.uk/types-of-asbestos/ National Asbestos Helpline]</ref>== | ||
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'''Serpentine''' - Serpentine class fibres are curly in appearance. There is only one member in this class of asbestos, called Chrysotile. | '''Serpentine''' - Serpentine class fibres are curly in appearance. There is only one member in this class of asbestos, called Chrysotile. | ||
*Chrysotile asbestos is obtained from serpentine rocks, which are found commonly throughout the world. Chrysotile appears under the microscope as a white fibre. This type of asbestos has been used more than any other, as it is more flexible than any of the Amphibole class asbestos and can be spun and woven into a fabric. Its most common use has been in corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It may also be found in sheets or panels used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Chrysotile has been a component in joint compounds and some wall plaster. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile, including brake linings, fire barriers in fuse boxes, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and gaskets for high temperature equipment. | *Chrysotile asbestos is obtained from serpentine rocks, which are found commonly throughout the world. Chrysotile appears under the microscope as a white fibre. This type of asbestos has been used more than any other, as it is more flexible than any of the Amphibole class asbestos and can be spun and woven into a fabric. | ||
Use - Its most common use has been in corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It may also be found in sheets or panels used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Chrysotile has been a component in joint compounds and some wall plaster. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile, including brake linings, fire barriers in fuse boxes, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and gaskets for high temperature equipment. | |||
'''Amphibole''' - Amphibole class fibres are needle-like in form. the remaining five types of asbestos fall into this category including Crocidolite, Amosite, Tremosite, Anthophyllite and Actinolite. | '''Amphibole''' - Amphibole class fibres are needle-like in form. the remaining five types of asbestos fall into this category including Crocidolite, Amosite, Tremosite, Anthophyllite and Actinolite. | ||
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If the [[waste]] contains any identifiable pieces of suspected asbestos containing material (ACM) it must be assessed as that. This would also apply to any dispersed fibres produced by deliberately breaking up such identifiable pieces<ref name="WM3" />. | If the [[waste]] contains any identifiable pieces of suspected asbestos containing material (ACM) it must be assessed as that. This would also apply to any dispersed fibres produced by deliberately breaking up such identifiable pieces<ref name="WM3" />. | ||
Where the waste contains identifiable pieces of asbestos containing material ( | Where the waste contains identifiable pieces of asbestos containing material (ACM) (i.e. any particle of a size that can be identified as potentially being asbestos by a competent person if examined by the naked eye), then these pieces must be assessed separately. The waste is hazardous if the concentration of asbestos in the piece of asbestos containing material is 0.1% or more. The waste is regarded as a mixed waste and classified accordingly. The following codes should be assigned to the asbestos waste as appropriate<ref name="WM3" />: | ||
* 17 06 05* construction material containing asbestos | * 17 06 05* construction material containing asbestos | ||
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The only way to confirm definitively if [[waste]] does contain asbestos fibres is to have a representative sample of the [[waste]] analysed in an accredited analytical laboratory<ref name="HSE">[https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/analysts-surveyors.htm/ HSE]</ref>. Laboratories undertaking this analysis must be accredited to International Standard ISO/IEC 17025 (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) and be accredited the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)<ref name="HSE" />. | The only way to confirm definitively if [[waste]] does contain asbestos fibres is to have a representative sample of the [[waste]] analysed in an accredited analytical laboratory<ref name="HSE">[https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/analysts-surveyors.htm/ HSE]</ref>. Laboratories undertaking this analysis must be accredited to International Standard ISO/IEC 17025 (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) and be accredited the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)<ref name="HSE" />. | ||
==Management of Asbestos== | |||
Asbestos is dangerous only when disturbed. If it is safely managed and contained it doesn't present a health hazard<ref name="HSEDTY" /> but asbestos shoud not be removed unnecessarily as removing it can be more dangerous than leaving it in place and managing it<ref name="HSEDTY" />. | |||
If ACMs need to be sealed, encapsulated or removed this can only be carried out by licensed contractors if the materials are high risk (e.g. pipe insulations and asbestos insulating panels). If the materials are lower risk (e.g. asbestos cement sheets and roofing) then an unlicensed but competent contractor may carry out this work<ref name="HSEDTY" />. | |||
Asbestos generated from repairs to property i.e. asbestos roofing is [[Hazardous Waste|hazardous waste]] and most be treated and disposed of such. Most [[Local Authority|Local Authorities]] (LAs) issue asbestos permits to householders needing to remove of this low risk asbestos which allows them to deposit household asbestos at suitably licensed facilities such as [[Household Waste Recycling Centres]] or [[Transfer Station|Transfer Stations]] used by the LAs. There is often a charge associated with this facility. | |||
In this instance the asbestos must be double bagged in appropriately labelled bags which highlights its hazardous contents. | |||
High risk asbestos must be managed, transported and disposed of only by approporiately licensed contractors and transferred to licensed [[Hazardous Landfill|hazardous waste landfills]] or to seperate engineered cellls within a [[Landfill]] where [[Stabilised Non-Reactive Hazardous Waste]] can be disposed of. | |||
[[File:Asbestos Skip at a HWRC.jpg|left|thumb|Asbestos Skip at HWRC]] | |||
[[File:Asbestos bag.jpg|none|thumb|Asbestos Bag all rights reserved flexipol]] | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||