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RTS Environmental Newsletter, May 2009

Asbestos Inspections in Real Estate

In recent newsletters we have discussed Mold and Moisture concerns when buying or selling homes. For this newsletter we wanted to focus on Asbestos as a common concern in older housing stock given it is often overlooked and becomes a surprise issue during the building inspection phase of a contract negotiation. Asbestos is a concern given exposures to fibers have been known to be a potential health risk. RTS Environmental Services wants to assist in this process by providing the FACTS regarding Asbestos and by performing an inspection meant to address asbestos in a practical and meaningful fashion.

Finding Asbestos In Your Home

Asbestos is a mineral ore which was mined, and refined to produce a strong, versatile fiber used in hundreds of construction and building materials. In homes and buildings the most common asbestos containing materials are:

• Vinyl flooring (usually in the form of 9 inch square tiles)
• Pipe insulation (found on boiler pipes leading to radiators)
• Asbestos canvass used on or as part of HVAC ducting
• Asbestos board panels installed above boilers as a fire barrier
• Asbestos shingles used for roofing and siding on the exterior of homes
• Asbestos duct pipe used as cementious duct runs embedded in concrete slabs

Our inspections are meant to discover these materials and address whether or not there is any concern regarding condition or exposure risk. In many cases such as with flooring tile, there is little to no obvious risk to the material in normal conditions. Yet other materials such as pipe insulation can be subject to damage during remodeling or from frequent disturbance in living areas.

In some cases we may need to test a small sample to confirm if the material is or is not asbestos. This lab test is called a PLM (polarized light microscopy) and reports asbestos content as a percentage of the material make up. Those materials which indicate for greater than 1% asbestos content are considered asbestos materials. Most individuals are not exposed to high amounts of asbestos in our daily lives. However, if asbestos is in your home, disruption of the material can result in the substance potentially becoming airborne and thus inhaled into the lungs. Lung cancer and other diseases are linked to asbestos exposure and so care is taken to minimize this risk.

Call us if you have any questions or concerns regarding asbestos materials. We are experienced, trained and licensed professionals and we take our time to explain these issues without provoking fear. Call or email us and we will be glad to help.

If you or a potential homebuyer suspects that there may be a asbestos problem in a property, it is wise to schedule an inspection to determine the severity of the problem. Asbestos in homes poses a potential health risk and should be dealt with immediately. To discuss this with a certified Asbestos Inspector, please contact RTS Environmental Services at 1-800-722-5589 or visit our website at www.rtsenvironmental.com.

RTS Environmental has provided thousands of mold and asbestos inspections for real estate professionals and buyers throughout the greater Washington Metropolitan area. We provide thorough, honest, and practical inspections and solutions.

Contact Information
RTS Environmental Services, Inc.
Tel: 1-800-722-5589
301-607-6276 Maryland Line
Fax: 301-831-6235
Email: info@rtsenvironmental.com

Serving Washington DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia – Areas includes: Adamstown, MD - Alexandria, VA - Annandale, VA - Arlington, VA - Ashburn, VA – Bethesda, MD - Burke, VA - Centreville, VA - Chantilly, VA - Chevy Chase, MD – Clarksville, MD - College Park, MD – Columbia, MD – Damascus, MD - Ellicott City, MD - Fairfax, VA - Falls Church, VA – Frederick, MD – Gaithersburg, MD – Germantown, MD - Great Falls, VA - Herndon, VA – Kensington, MD – Knoxville, MD – Laurel, MD - Leesburg, VA - Mc Lean, VA – Middletown, MD – Monrovia, MD - Mount Airy, MD, Mt. Airy, MD - New Market, MD - Oakton, VA – Olney, MD – Potomac, MD - Reston, VA – Rockville, MD - Silver Spring, MD - Springfield, VA - Sterling, VA - Takoma Park, MD – Urbana, MD - Vienna, VA - Wheaton MD