Even though the use of asbestos has dropped from about 803,000 tons in the 1970’s, down to only a couple hundred tons today, there is a very good chance that you are still potentially going to become into contact with this carcinogenic mineral at some point in time. Yes, asbestos was one of the main components that was used in all different types of building materials, consumer products and many other items, as it was a cheap and durable material, research has since shown that it can cause some very serious health issues and if you are aware of its presence in your home or building, you should have it replaced.
With that being said, when it does come time to replace the asbestos in your building, you are going to want to trust this job to a trained asbestos removal professional. Here is what you need to know about safely removing asbestos from your home or building.
Safe Asbestos Handling
When it comes to asbestos, it has been linked to several different types of diseases, some of which include lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis as reported by irwinasbestos.com.au. Once asbestos gets into the air and becomes airborne, you will not be able to see any of the toxic little fibers that you are being exposed to. This means that you will have no idea that you are being exposed to a toxic material that can cause you some very serious harm.
Once these little fibers have been ingested or inhaled, they can very easily become lodged within the linings of your different organs, this including your lungs, abdomen or even your heart. While you will probably not feel any of the negative side-effects of this immediately, over the next few years, it can really play a huge role in causing you serious health issues.
Because of all the potential health effects that asbestos has, it is going to be very important that you are being precautious whenever you are around asbestos. While not every material containing asbestos is going to be damaged, you are going to still want to have those materials replaced by a professional, so that if and when they do get damaged, you can be sure that you are asbestos free.
Where is Asbestos Found
The use of asbestos was very widespread in the 1970s and 80s, meaning that it was used in thousands of different products that ranged from building materials and car parts, all the way to protective clothing (kind of ironic, right?). This means that there is a very high probability that there is asbestos in your building if it was built before 1985. Some of the materials that asbestos was used in include:
- Cement sheeting
- Electrical breakers
- Plaster
- Caulking
- Concrete
- Millboard
All of these materials are very common and can be found in most homes, so if you think that there is some asbestos containing materials in your house, you should contact an asbestos removal company so that they can come and check for you. If your home does have asbestos in it, they can then remove it for you, so you no longer have to worry about it.
