Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. The use of asbestos is now very restricted, but it was previously used in many building products, domestic appliances and household goods because of its strength and heat resisting properties.
Health Issues – What Are The Risks?
The risk of being exposed to asbestos is increased by the presence of construction. Work on ceilings and flooring can cause the asbestos to become friable. This is why non-friable asbestos is often recommended to be left in tact and not removed. Asbestos does not just chip away or decompose, it must be physically disturbed to pose a threat to human health.
If asbestos is required to be removed, either before or during a construction project, or due to an accidental disturbance, laws require that certain precautions and procedures take place. These regulations aim to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken during an abatement procedure, and all health and safety precautions are taken. We at Tsiasbestos.com will make sure all regulations are followed. Until 1972, most of the buildings in this country were constructed with asbestos, including schools, offices and homes. At the time, no one had any idea that when inhaled asbestos was deadly. Today, people and asbestos precariously coexist in old buildings. However, it is only when asbestos is disturbed that it becomes a health threat to human beings.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was used commonly in buildings for insulation. Asbestos fibers are exceptionally strong and are resistant to heat. Asbestos is commonly found in ceiling tiles, flooring and pipes. Asbestos only becomes a danger when it is disturbed, causing the fibers to become airborne. This is commonly referred to as friable asbestos, while intact asbestos is referred to as non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos has become airborne and the human lungs are now susceptible to breathing in the airborne fibers.
Research has yet to determine a safe level of exposure to asbestos, but one thing is for certain; the more prolonged the exposure, the greater the risk becomes for developing an asbestos related disease.
If your home was built prior to nineteen seventy nine, there was probably some sort of asbestos materials used in its construction. Examples of building products that previously contained this mineral fiber include roofing shingles, some types of siding, insulation, and vinyl or rubber flooring tiles.
Since homes are filled with insulation in their walls and roofs, it can be one of the biggest problem materials. Not only that, but do it yourselfers can come in contact with insulation that has asbestos in it if they’re re-modelling any part of their house.
The only way to determine if the insulation in your home contains this dangerous mineral fiber is to hire a professional to retrieve samples of the insulation in your home. He or she can then take them or send them to a laboratory to be analyzed. A laboratory can look at the fibers under a microscope and identify what it is.
If the insulation in your home is made of asbestos, fortunately, as long as it’s left undisturbed, it shouldn’t pose a danger to you or your family. Keep in mind that just because your home might have asbestos in it, doesn’t mean that you or your family is at risk for health dangers.
However, if asbestos insulation is disturbed, it can easily release its tiny mineral fibers into the air that you breathe. ‘Disturbed’ means that you ripped it out of the walls or ceilings. It can also mean that the insulation was somehow damaged or otherwise moved.
In conclusion, if your home does contain insulation that contains asbestos, or, if you suspect that your home does, as long as the insulation is in good condition and is not exposed, there shouldn’t be a safety problem for you and your family.
However, if you’re going to do some remodeling work around your home that will include removing or exposing the insulation, then you will need to have the insulation analyzed by a laboratory. If it contains asbestos, then you’ll need to hire a professional to remove it safely.
