Introduction
If you have a home that was built before the 1980s, there are possibilities that they contain asbestos in the building materials. That means that you are exposed to asbestos that is very toxic to your health. Asbestos can be in cement, it can be in insulators, pipes, walls, and even tiles. If you are suspecting that your home has asbestos, it will be wise of you if you learned how to deal with it. You must learn how you can protect you and your loved ones from the exposure of asbestos.
In the era where homeowners do renovations by themselves, many people are now knocking down ceilings tearing out old tiles, floors, and walls. In their efforts to upgrade to a beautiful home, many end up exposing themselves to a toxic substance known as asbestos. When you breathe in asbestos, you are most likely to suffer from severe diseases. A good example is suffering from lung disease.
Is asbestos dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is composed of thin fibers. If construction material made of asbestos gets damaged, the fibers become airborne. They are released into the environment. And anyone who inhales the toxic chemical is in danger of suffering from serious lung diseases and conditions. After years of being exposed to the toxic mineral, there is always a likelihood that the victim will suffer from cancer known as mesothelioma. This is a condition or a disease that forms tumors on the lining of the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen. To avoid such, make sure that asbestos testing has been done on your home construction material.
Where asbestos can be found at home
There are many places that asbestos can be found in the house. Although the use of asbestos in building and construction material has declined, schools, hospitals, residential houses, and other constructions built before the 1980s contain asbestos. Areas that asbestos can be found in the home include cement, the roof shingles, steam pipes, ceiling, and floor tiles, textured paint, and spray-on insulation. Residential asbestos was indeed faced out but it’s used is still legal in dozen applications.
Exposure scenarios
Asbestos exposure can occur in different ways at home. When you think of drilling through a wall of an old building, you will be releasing asbestos into the environment. If you are thinking of a DIY renovation or replacing an old pipe, chances are you will be exposing yourself to asbestos. If you are not sure whether your home has asbestos in its building material or not, it is best if you call asbestos survey London experts who will assess the situation and inform you of the best way out.
What to do about asbestos in your home
There are many things that you must do to safeguard your home and yourself from the wrath of asbestos presence in your home. If you find something in your home that you suspect to be asbestos, do not touch it. If the material is not damaged, just leave it alone.