Asbestos and Earthquakes

Natural disasters such as earthquakes can cause serious hazards for homeowners concerning asbestos exposure. When a home or building is damaged by an earthquake, the building components that contain asbestos may be disturbed, releasing significant amounts of toxic asbestos fibers into the air. If these fibers become airborne and are inhaled into the body, serious health conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis can arise. The latency period associated with these diseases causes symptoms to take decades to develop. As a result, a diagnosis usually occurs when the disease or cancer is in its latest stages of development.

Asbestos Exposure Resulting from an Earthquake

On October 17, 1989, San Francisco was shaken by an earthquake registering 7.1 on the Richter scale. The earthquake destroyed many structures, and disturbed asbestos-containing materials in the process. This event, coupled with the asbestos threat created by Hurricane Hugo that same year, inspired the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to start considering the hazards of asbestos in the wake of natural disasters.

If you think your home or building contains asbestos, you can contact an abatement contractor or inspector and have it tested. If asbestos is present, have a professional safely remove and transport the materials to a properly designated landfill that is qualified to handle asbestos. These are steps that can be taken before a natural disaster occurs and will make the cleanup process much easier. If a home or building containing asbestos has already been affected by an earthquake, all precautionary measures should be taken to protect those working in the area.

Steps to Take to Avoid Asbestos Exposure

During the cleanup of damaged or destroyed buildings after an earthquake, it is unlikely that temporary workers, volunteers, and local residents working on the site are aware of the hazards associated with asbestos. It is also unlikely these workers will be provided with protective equipment to avoid such hazards. In the event of facing a situation of this kind, it’s important to keep all asbestos materials wet to prevent any dust from rising into the air. In addition, those working in the area should wear protective gear, including clothes, boots, gloves, and masks. Some common materials that may contain asbestos include pipe coverings, roofing products, duct and home insulation, fire protection panels, furnace insulating pads, pipe and boiler insulation, and floor tiles.

Since the exact time and location of an earthquake cannot be predicted, preventative measures should be performed whenever possible. Removing hazardous materials such as asbestos, regardless of the threat level, is a sure way to improve safety after a natural disaster. However, removing asbestos materials from a home or building does not keep you entirely safe from the substance. Because asbestos fibers are light and durable, they have the potential to remain in the air for several weeks. As a result, even nearby damaged structures can present the risks of inhaling asbestos.

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