Glossary of Terms for Asbestos Removal Services

<div class="article-entry"><img alt="asbestos ceiling scrape" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" height="2023" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 3046px) 100vw, 3046px" src="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2018/12/Asbestos-Ceiling-Scrape.jpg" srcset="https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2018/12/Asbestos-Ceiling-Scrape.jpg 3046w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2018/12/Asbestos-Ceiling-Scrape-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2018/12/Asbestos-Ceiling-Scrape-768x510.jpg 768w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2018/12/Asbestos-Ceiling-Scrape-1024x680.jpg 1024w" width="3046"/><div class="featured-caption"></div><h3>Educate yourself on asbestos removal industry terms and processes.</h3><p>Below are key asbestos removal terms and descriptions that will help you navigate your way through your experience from beginning to end.</p><p><strong>activity-based sampling </strong><br/>The process of measuring airborne concentrations of asbestos when soil has been disturbed</p><p><em>Also known as: ABS </em></p><p><strong>amosite </strong><br/>A type of asbestos that’s in the group of amphibole</p><p><em>Also known as: brown asbestos </em></p><p><strong>asbestos</strong><br/>A naturally occurring mineral that’s composed of mineral silicate fibers from the amphibole and serpentine series</p><p><strong>asbestosis<br/></strong>A disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. It’s noncancerous, but it scars the lungs’ air exchange regions.</p><p></p><p><strong>asbestos cement </strong><br/>A product that’s made of cement and sand and has been reinforced with asbestos fibers</p><p><em>Also known as: AC </em></p><p><strong>asbestos-containing building materials </strong><br/>Materials used for construction that contain asbestos</p><p><em>Also known as: ACBM </em></p><p><strong>asbestos-containing materials</strong><br/>A material that contains asbestos</p><p><em>Also known as: ACM </em></p><p><strong>asbestos vacuum cleaner </strong><br/>A vacuum cleaner that’s used to remove asbestos</p><p><strong>carcinogen </strong><br/>A substance that causes cancer</p><p><em>Also known as: carcinogens </em></p><p><strong>chrysolite </strong><br/>The common form of asbestos</p><p><em>Also known as: white asbestos </em></p><p><strong>contaminant </strong><br/>A substance that can cause harmful health problems and is present in the environment</p><p><em>Also known as: contaminants </em></p><p><strong>dose </strong><br/>The amount of asbestos or other substance a person has been exposed to over a period of time</p><p><strong>exposure </strong><br/>Being exposed to a substance by swallowing, breathing or touching</p><p><em>Also known as: acute exposure; chronic exposure </em></p><p><strong>hazardous substance </strong><br/>Any substance that’s a public health or environmental threat</p><p><em>Also known as: hazardous material </em></p><p><strong>media </strong><br/>Any part of the environment such as soil, air, plants or animals that contains contaminating material</p><p><strong>mesothelioma </strong><br/>A type of lung cancer that’s caused by asbestos</p><p><strong>mixed cellulose ester </strong><br/>A filter that’s used for sampling air</p><p><em>Also known as: MCE </em></p><p><strong>permissible exposure limit </strong><br/>The amount of exposure that’s permitted or allowed</p><p><em>Also known as: PEL </em></p><p><strong>personal protective equipment </strong><br/>Clothing or equipment that’s designed to protect workers from hazards or dangers</p><p><em>Also known as: PPE </em></p><p><strong>pleural fibrosis </strong><br/>A lung disease that can be caused by asbestos</p><p><strong>polarised light microscopy </strong><br/>A method for analyzing asbestos fibers</p><p><em>Also known as: PLM </em></p><p><strong>polycarbonate </strong><br/>A type of filter that’s used when the air is being sampled for asbestos</p><p><em>Also known as: PC; PC filter; polycarbonate filter </em></p><p><strong>presumed asbestos containing material </strong><br/>Material that’s assumed to have asbestos</p><p><em>Also known as: PACM </em></p><p><strong>prismatic </strong><br/>Crystals that are in the shape of a prism</p><p><strong>stationary air monitor </strong><br/>A monitor that’s used to sample air. It’s placed in one location and not moved during the sampling.</p><p><strong>time weighting factor </strong><br/>The time that’s considered for asbestos risk and means a lack of continuous exposure</p><p><em>Also known as: TWF </em></p><p><strong>vermiculite </strong><br/>A material that’s mined in Libby, Montana and used for insulation. It contains amphibole minerals.</p></div>