OLYMPIA — People buying supplies for a home remodeling project might not realize that they have asbestos in them. The state Senate says the product should say so right on the label.
A proposal to require such labeling, sponsored by a Spokane senator, passed on a 47-2 vote this week. If the House agrees, labels on everything from wallboard to shingles to floor tiles to caulk would have to say if there’s asbestos inside.
The idea for that bill came from the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency staff, which inspects demolition sites to make sure asbestos isn’t getting into the air, among other reasons.
“This has been an issue for a while,” said Bill Dameworth, agency director. It’s not usually a problem when wallboard goes up or shingles go on, but it can be a problem when they are torn out and release asbestos into the air.
That’s a known problem for buildings constructed through the latter half of the last century. It’s not as well known for newer buildings or remodeled structures, Dameworth said. “It’s kind of hard to find a building that you’re going to demolish that doesn’t have a lot of asbestos in it.”
Asbestos was banned from 1989 to 1991 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but since that time has been used by some manufacturers in common home-construction products. It might be listed as “mineral fibers” or chrysotile, a type of white asbestos. Or it might not be listed at all.
The agency’s board of directors at one point thought about banning such products in Spokane County, but after study, they decided it made more sense to require labeling so consumers would know what they were buying and make their own choices.
Dameworth said he thinks consumers would be glad to know what’s in their products.
