Asbestos abatement is a notoriously dangerous and expensive process. Typically, specialists must undergo hours of training, don protective suits, and follow regimented procedures when removing the contaminant. Fortunately, scientists at
Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have developed a solution.

The new procedure requires a device that melts the asbestos using infrared rays in a matter of mere seconds. The asbestos then cools into a harmless solid, enabling easy removal from concrete walls. The concrete incurs no damage from the infrared. This solution is significantly less expensive, more efficient, and faster than previous removal strategies. Whereas this new method will not work on sheetrock and wood, it may—in the future—simplify the disposal of friable asbestos waste.

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