FAQS FOR LA ASBESTOS ABATEMENT CONTRACTORS
If you need an asbestos contractor Los Angeles CA residents trust, Nielsen Environmental should be your first call. While we encourage you to contact us directly for more detailed information, here are a few short Q&As about asbestos:
Q: What services can an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA provide?
It’s an unfortunate fact that not every asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA is the same; far too many are not cost conscious or service oriented. At Nielsen Environmental, we pride ourselves on standing above the rest. We have served the Los Angeles CA community for many years, offering a wide range of demolition services. As an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA, we have undergone strenuous and extensive training geared specifically to safely and effectively remove asbestos materials from homes and businesses. If you are in need of an asbestos contractor, or suspect you might, give us a call. One of our specialists will come to your location and perform a full spectrum analysis of your structure to determine if asbestos is contained within. Based on the testing results, you will receive a comprehensive explanation of your solution choices.
Q: Where in a structure might asbestos have been used?
Though asbestos has been banned in the construction industry, it is still in use because of its former prevalence in the manufacture of fire and heat protection materials. A building may contain asbestos in any of the following locations:
- Roofing tiles
- Wall panels
- Flooring tiles
- Ductwork
- Insulation
Nielsen Environmental is an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA that, unlike many other companies, can remove any of the above materials from a house, apartment, office, or other building structure. Our team is highly trained to remove asbestos quickly but safely, ensuring the the structure’s owner and occupants as well as passersby are not in danger of asbestos exposure.
Q: Is asbestos exposure dangerous?
During the last several decades, since the time that asbestos became common in construction materials, thousands of Americans have developed lung cancer (in particular, mesothelioma) after exposure to asbestos fibers. As of 2013, workplace exposure to asbestos was around 125 million people worldwide. Though not everyone who is exposed to asbestos is guaranteed to develop a life-threatening illness as a result, it is common enough to be a great concern. As a contractor that takes pride in being a part of the Los Angeles CA community, Nielsen Environmental wishes to help prevent the diseases and conditions associated with asbestos exposure such as these:
- Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the tissues that are associated with many of the body’s internal organs. Usually, it affects the lining of the lungs in addition to the chest wall, causing the individual to experience great difficulty with breathing. The prognosis is less than a five year length of survival before the person succumbs to the disease.
- Asbestosis is a condition involving the long term inflammation as well as scarring of the lungs from asbestos exposure. It can lead to life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma.
Q: What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals. These minerals are extremely durable, flexible and resistant to heat, chemicals, and electricity. For many years, asbestos was supported for its heat-resistant abilities. It was used in numerous materials, such as ceiling materials, textile products, automotive parts, boat parts, roofing shingles, floor tiles, and many more. However, scientific evidence has proven that asbestos is a toxic mineral that can be linked to several lung and respiratory conditions.
Q: How do I know if asbestos is in my home?
Asbestos can be found in floor tiles, ceiling tiles, shingles and/or siding. However, if your house was built after 1980, you most likely do not have asbestos because of updated laws and regulations. The only way to be completely sure if a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified inspector. An asbestos contractor Los Angeles CA residents recommend might advise testing materials if they are damaged or if you are undergoing a renovation project.
Q: What are the health risks caused by asbestos?
Asbestos was a very common product and used in numerous ways before negative health factors were discovered. As a trusted Los Angeles asbestos contractor might explain, people could be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their school, or their homes.
Asbestos is dangerous when its particles are disturbed and it releases tiny asbestos fibers into the air. These airborne fibers can be inhaled and may get trapped in the lungs. If this happens, the fibers might accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. This may affect your breathing or result in serious health problems. You might want to contact an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA if you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related health problem, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Q: Who is at risk of exposure to asbestos?
Before the negative health effects were discovered, asbestos was originally believed to be a great product, and thus asbestos was used in thousands of commercial and industrial products. An asbestos contractor Los Angeles CA trusts might testify that the use of asbestos was particularly prevalent in the following industries:
- Shipbuilding
- Commercial product manufacturing
- Power plants
- Construction
- Branches of the military
Veterans and workers employed in these industries prior to 1980 have a higher risk of encountering asbestos products. However, virtually any individual may risk exposure. An asbestos contractor Los Angeles CA can provide may be able to help eliminate the mineral.
Q: Who should I contact to have asbestos removed?
If you need the assistance of a trained asbestos inspector for a complete demolition project or an interior or exterior project, contact Nielsen Environmental. We take on clients’ projects with the skill, responsibility, and integrity that they deserve. If you believe there may be asbestos in your home, contact an asbestos contractor Los Angeles CA residents can depend on at (323) 951-9722.
Don’t Risk Exposure to Asbestos: Call Us Today
The Nielsen Environmental team is comprised of specialists who are highly trained, licensed, and insured to provide safe and cost-effective asbestos removal of homes and businesses. Call us today for a free consultation to learn how an experienced asbestos contractor in Los Angeles CA can mitigate the risk of exposure in your home or office.
3 Myths About COVID-19 Decontamination
1. Cleaning Is the Same Thing as Disinfecting
Both cleaning and disinfecting may be effective at protecting against COVID-19 infection, but they are not the same thing. Cleaning involves removing germs from a surface along with dirt and other impurities. It does not kill the germs, but reducing their number may decrease the risk of infection. Disinfecting involves killing the germs so that they can no longer cause infection. It requires special chemical agents that have been proven effective for the task. Cleaning is something that you can probably perform yourself, but you may want to ask an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles, CA, if professional disinfecting and decontamination services are available. If you ask Nielsen Environmental, the answer is yes.
2. All Disinfectants Are Effective Against Coronavirus
The Environmental Protection Agency publishes a list of all the disinfectants that work to kill the coronavirus. The EPA also registers all the effective disinfectants. Each one bears an EPA registration number on its packaging that you can look up and verify. Unfortunately, some dishonest manufacturers have tried to capitalize on people's concern over COVID-19 to make false claims about the effectiveness of their disinfectants. You can tell a false claim by looking for the EPA registration number. If the product doesn't have one, its effectiveness against coronavirus has not been verified, and it may not provide adequate protection.
Another way to ensure complete disinfection is to hire the services of an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles, CA that also provides COVID decontamination services and uses only EPA-registered disinfectants and other proven decontamination techniques.
3. Soft Surfaces Cannot Be Disinfected
Soft surfaces cannot be disinfected in the same ways that hard surfaces can, but that doesn't necessarily mean they cannot be decontaminated at all. It depends on the surface. Some disinfectants are effective on soft surfaces, and the EPA identifies these on their website. That way, you can verify that they are not only appropriate for use on soft surfaces but also effective against coronavirus. It may also be possible to clean some soft materials by laundering them in the washing machine. Using the highest appropriate water settings can help to kill the coronavirus. Some items cannot be laundered because they are too large and cumbersome. While it may be possible to wash some drapes, carpets cannot be laundered for obvious reasons.
As part of the coronavirus decontamination services we provide at Nielsen Environmental, we can remove any materials, hard or soft, that we are unable to disinfect completely.
