Definition
Any work done to control fiber release from asbestos-containing materials: removal, encapsulation, enclosure, or repair. Licensed contractors carry out abatement under strict safety protocols, including sealed containment, negative air pressure, full worker PPE, and certified waste disposal. The aim is to eliminate or reduce the exposure risk to building occupants and workers.
See also:
Asbestos
A commercial and regulatory label, not a mineralogical term, for a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals of diverse geological origins, each extracted from different types of rock. The English name comes from the ancient Greek ásbestos (ἄσβεστος, "inextinguishable"), while Romance languages use "amianto" / "amiante", from Greek amÃantos (ἀμίαντος, "incorruptible", "immaculate"); both names express the ancient awe at a material fire could not destroy. The six regulated minerals fall into two families: serpentine (chrysotile) and amphibole (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite). Asbestos was widely used in construction and manufacturing due to its heat resistance, tensile strength and insulating properties, with roughly 3,000 industrial applications at peak use in the 1970s. When disturbed, it releases microscopic fibres that lodge permanently in lung tissue, causing mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. All forms are classified as Group 1 human carcinogens by the IARC, and more than 70 countries have banned it.
Containment
An enclosed work area built from polyethylene sheeting and sealed to prevent asbestos fibers from escaping during removal. It includes barrier walls, airlocks, decontamination units, and a negative air pressure system. Containment integrity must be maintained throughout the project and verified by air monitoring and visual inspections.