Every state is home to numerous job sites where asbestos was prevalent because the toxic mineral was widely used in industrial, commercial and domestic settings. 

Illinois has a broad economic base with large markets in manufacturing, agriculture, coal, petroleum, power generation and other heavy industry. This has led to materials such as asbestos to be used because of its fire resistant and insulating properties. Many workers exposed to the fibers developed mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, placing Illinois Seventh in the U.S. for asbestos related deaths.

Asbestos – Containing Superfund Site in Illinois 

Between 1974 and the early 1990s, the former W.R. Grace & Company facility in nearby West Chicago processed more than 273,000 tons of asbestos containing vermiculite shipped from Libby, Montana. Those who worked at the plant were exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos fibers and are at high risk of developing diseases related to asbestos exposure. W.R.Grace stopped operations at the West Chicago plant in 1996. In 2003, the agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry reported tests conducted by the EPA detected trace amounts of Libby asbestos in the soil surrounding the plant. 

How Do I know if my Property has Asbestos?

Asbestos materials used in older structures generally don’t have any labels. Only microscopic testing of samples can help reveal the presence of asbestos and this is something that can only be done in a laboratory by a trained professional. You should not attempt to collect samples for asbestos testing on your own. To 100% confirm or deny the presence of asbestos, material samples should be forwarded to a specialist laboratory. Certified asbestos testing labs use a form of transmission electron microscopy to reveal and identify and kind of asbestos that are present within a sample.

If you need help locating an asbestos testing consultant there is help. For analysis of materials to determine if asbestos is present, you should contact Eagle Environmental Consultants at (312) 768-3393 or  email Larry.Bertsch@illinoisenvironmentalconsultants.com