Court Proceedings Remind of Lingering Asbestos Threat

The court proceedings into the infamous Sunrise Propane explosion of 2008 in north Toronto continues to wind its way through the system. Its current phase involves the issue of responsibility; officials are blaming a procedure that they say the Environment Ministry had informed the company to stop – i.e. truck to truck transfer of the propane, which they see as the cause of the accident which left one dead and a Toronto neighbourhood showered with asbestos.

Asbestos is Still a Threat
Whatever may have caused the explosion, other measures could have mitigated the damage, namely removal of the asbestos in question.  The incident, albeit an extreme example, underscores the danger inherent to the presence of the substance once thought of as a “miracle” construction material.

Certainly, with its fire resistant and nearly indestructible properties, it would have been considered the ideal material for many uses in an industrial building that was destined to house flammable materials. Asbestos may be considered “safe” in bound form, i.e. where it is combined with cement and used to make formed elements like tiles, shingles, pipe chasing and more. It was widely used in both residential and industrial construction for most of the 20^th century.

In an industrial area, the risks of something like this are higher, to be sure, but even in your own home, a crumbling ceiling or deteriorating paint could expose you to friable – or breathable – asbestos fibres.

Did you know?
Asbestos fibres may even be present in your:

• Popcorn ceilings?
• Textured paints?

No level of exposure is considered safe, and ignorance is definitely not bliss where this dangerous material is concerned.

Don’t Try This At Home
Get expert help. The fact of the matter is that if your home was built before 1970, you have to assume that it contains asbestos, and it may appear in a wide variety of places.

Before any renovation projects, call in the experts from GreenStream Environmental Services for an asbestos inspection. At GreenStream Environmental Services, we offer professional vermiculite and asbestos remediation services to help you contain and then rid yourself of this problem.

Certainly, if you’re planning on buying an older home, it should be an essential part of your pre-purchase checklist.

In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414.  You’ll be glad you did