Asbestos Testing Cost

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals that have thin fibrous crystals. It was considered to be a very versatile material due to its unusual properties. Due to its flexibility, high tensile strength, flame-retardant and insulating properties, asbestos was widely used in the construction business, but in 1980s, the negative health effects of asbestos were revealed. Though EPA banned the use of asbestos in 1989 to tackle the problem of asbestos exposure, limited use of asbestos was permitted by a subsequent court ruling.

Asbestos has been recognized as a health hazard and in the industries where the employees might be at a risk of getting exposed to asbestos, the employers need to comply to the occupational safety standards. The presence of asbestos fibers can be determined by performing certain tests. The buildings that were constructed before the use of asbestos was banned can be tested for traces of asbestos with the help of asbestos testing.

Asbestos Exposure

Why is asbestos considered to be a health hazard. Asbestos was widely used in several industries due to its properties, but it is highly regulated since studies revealed that long term exposure to asbestos could lead to serious health problems. Inhalation of the tiny asbestos fibers for a prolonged period can lead to the scarring of lung tissue or asbestosis.

A person diagnosed with asbestosis experiences symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, chest tightness, clubbing of fingers and chest pain. Other medical conditions such as malignant mesothelioma, emphysema, pleural effusion and pulmonary hypertension and cardiovascular problems could also be caused due to long-term exposure of asbestos. Ever since the harmful effects of asbestos became known, the use of asbestos has been regulated. Since one cannot make out whether a material contains asbestos or not, therefore, asbestos tests can be conducted to detect the presence of asbestos fibers.

Testing for Asbestos

Certain tests can be conducted to find out if a place is contaminated with asbestos or not. At times, one might get exposed to asbestos in homes during house remodeling projects. Removing roofing shingles that might contain asbestos, sanding asbestos tiles or any other product that might contain asbestos can release asbestos fibers in the air. If you suspect that any material contains asbestos, samples can be taken and sent to the laboratory. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), polarized light microscopy (PLM) and phase contrast microscopy (PCM) are the different procedures that are used at the laboratories. You can either call professionals for taking a sample or collect a sample yourself.

The cost for testing can range from $10-$50. You can also purchase a do-it-yourself kit. A testing kit can be purchased from any hardware store. The cost for testing might be less if you are using these home kits. While buying these kits, find out if the cost is inclusive of the lab fees or not. If you are going to collect the sample yourself, turn off the air conditioning and heating systems. Wear a protective mask and gloves. Wet the material and cut the sample for testing and place the sample in a sealed bag. Wet the sampled area with a damp towel. Send the sample to the lab for testing. If you are checking an entire home, you might have to take more samples. The testing cost will be higher if many samples are taken. If the asbestos tests confirm the presence of asbestos, then you must proceed with asbestos removal. Asbestos removal cost can be high and will vary depending on the size of the home or place. The cost of removal of asbestos could range from $5-$30 per square foot.

If you feel that any of the articles in your home might be contaminated by asbestos, you can conduct tests to check for the presence of asbestos fibers. Since exposure to asbestos can cause various health problems, you must contact an accredited laboratory. If the tests confirm the presence of asbestos, you must have this dangerous mineral removed at the earliest.