In this edition of the newsletter we want to share with you information about asbestos and its terminology. The IPM program section of the newsletter will explore a pest that is common in our schools, and inform you how IPM technicians take steps to eliminate this pest. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in certain rock formations, mined from open pit mines. Most of the asbestos used in the United States today comes from Canada.
Asbestos is inexpensive, easy to work with, and it is abundant.
The fibers are wonderful because they do not burn and do not conduct heat and electricity. The fibers are flexible, and resistant to wear. More than 3000 different products were made using asbestos. Some of these materials included pipe insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, floor tile, ceiling tile, brake pads, clutch facings, plasters, adhesive, gaskets, packing material for valves,and asbestos gloves. Literally thousands of products had asbestos in them.