It is integral to keep and maintain a home to make it safe for everyone living inside. You have to perform a lot of cleaning, refurbishing, and testing to get the job done.
Whenever you talk about repairs and testing, asbestos always finds a way to squeeze into the conversation. But what is the material exactly? What makes it dangerous?
Why test your home for it? We will answer these questions and learn more about this compound in today’s article.
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Explaining What Is Asbestos
There are many naturally occurring minerals around us – and asbestos is one of them. It is a silicate compound that contains fiber-like crystals, which can get into the atmosphere via man-made and natural causes.
The material is an excellent building material. Besides, many companies before put it into all kinds of products – from piping, garden tools to kitchenware.
It is heat-resistant, sturdy, and can insulate electricity properly. Plus, it is also an excellent fire retardant. Many buildings and complexes back in the seventies and eighties had asbestos as part of their construction.
However, it is now illegal to use asbestos as a construction and manufacturing material. Many countries have a ban on it and its usage.
It is highly toxic, and you can contract many diseases and conditions if asbestos fibers get into your system.
The Many Health Hazards It Possesses
You can expose yourself to the material if you damage or disturb any surface or item that has it. The hazardous fibers will climb into the atmosphere, and you can inhale them without you even knowing it.
They will enter your lungs, and this is where the conditions and anomalies can begin to form.
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Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a common disease you can acquire after inhaling asbestos fibers. It is chronic, and symptoms can appear years after exposure. Its prominent characteristics include inflammation and lung scarring.
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Mesothelioma
This disease forms in body cavity membranes. It results in tumors appearing in the lung, heart, stomach, and testes linings.
There are many kinds of Mesothelioma: pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular Mesothelioma.
Chest pains and abdominal pains are frequent symptoms of Mesothelioma. Unfortunately, those who have this disease often do not last for more than a year.
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is another prominent condition you can get from asbestos exposure. It is tremendously deadly, and your risk of having it climbs tenfold if you are a smoking individual.
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Pleural Plaques
This one is a condition many experts do not consider life-threatening or grave. But you may have difficulty breathing and may feel episodes of varied pain.
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Other Cancers
Asbestos is also responsible for many other cancers: gallbladder, throat, kidney, esophageal, ovarian, and bile duct cancer. Albeit, more research is needed to prove and claim these.
Where Can You Find Asbestos In A House?
- Pipes and laggings
- Loose insulations
- Popcorn ceilings
- Roof shingles
- Old furnaces
- Textured decorative coatings
- Ceiling tiles
- Coating boilers
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Exterior window panels
- Wall partitions
- Caulking and glazing
- Other forms of paint
- Woodburning stove floors
- Coal and oil furnaces
- Millboards
- Cement sheets
- Automobile clutches
- Automobile brakes
You can find the material not only in a residential property. Other settings, such as schools, construction areas, and natural surfaces may contain asbestos. Even water and air are not in exception – asbestos and other chemicals can contaminate them.
Testing Your Home
Testing your home for asbestos is an easy procedure. Just order an asbestos test kit and follow the step-by-step instructions that come with it.
If you are in the UK and need asbestos testing in your area, for example, London, you might want to get a quote. By this time, you are now aware of the dangers that asbestos can cause.
And the conditions are no joke at all. So, here are some things to take note of why you should consider asbestos testing for your property.
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The House’s Time Of Construction
Is your house relatively new, like not more than ten years of age? You are in luck, for asbestos could not be present in it. But if your property is more than thirty or forty years old, things might not be the same.
Old houses have construction materials that contain asbestos to improve their integrity and durability.
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Put Home Repairs On Hold
Repairing is crucial for any house. However, you must first set them for another time and perform an asbestos test first.
You never know when you or a technician accidentally stumbles and irritates asbestos-containing surfaces, thus releasing the fibrous crystals into the air.
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Doing It On Your Own Is A Big No-No
You can go ahead and test your house on your own, as there are available tools, kits, and other paraphernalia that allow you to detect asbestos on your own.
You may do some tests, but never attempt to remove the material whatsoever. However, this is a dangerous and expensive endeavor. It is up to you if you will still give it a shot.
Not to mention that other states consider the practice illegal. Take our advice, and better to be safe than sorry.
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Get Professional Assistance
And why bother testing your house for the compound if you can hire the experts to do things for you? You will indeed shell out more cash for such an undertaking – you will pay for other things like equipment transporting, labor, and other factors.
But you cannot argue with the results that a company can ensure your loved ones and home’s safety.
You can also contact your local environmental affairs agency to help with asbestos matters more efficiently. They will permanently take care of the compound and prevent it from being a bother to you in the future.
As A Conclusion
If you value the safety of your family and loved ones, then asbestos testing is a must. You have the option to find out about local asbestos contracting companies and their services and find the best one to suit your requirements and needs.
Better to pay the pros for splendid and expert work, rather than pay for outrageous hospital and medical bills.