Checking for Asbestos in Your
Home
by Kasi Jones
If you are concerned about
asbestos exposure you are not alone. Many individuals
wonder if they have been exposed, and if so, what they can do
to help protect their health. If you think that you have been
exposed to asbestos or are looking for ways to prevent an
exposure, look no further. We will
go over some of the health problems that arise from asbestos
exposure, and what can be done to prevent them.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used for a variety of
different applications. Many homes may have this material in
their insulation, as it is a fire retardant. Once exposed,
individuals can inhale the microscopic asbestos particles and
take them into their lungs. Once there, the fibers can cause
lung cancer. If prolonged exposure occurs, an individual can
also develop cancer in the chest cavity and abdomen.
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Asbestos Home Testing-
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Kirsten Hawkins
Asbestos home testing is a
process of testing the presence
of asbestos in homes in general
and building materials in
particular. Asbestos is a
mineral fiber resistant to
heat, chemicals, and
electricity. Building and
insulation industries made
widespread use of asbestos in
their operations. Asbestos is
commonly used in your homes in
one form or the other. Some
building materials that may
contain asbestos materials are
vinyl floor tiles; patching
compounds textured paints,
furnace and stovepipe,
insulation, stove door gaskets,
roofing shingles, cement, and
siding material.
Asbestos was most commonly used
until early 1970s in various
home appliances, such as
toasters, clothes dryers, and
hair dryers. Now, government
has laid norms for the use of
asbestos and its exposure.
Asbestos home testing is
essential because exposure to
and inhalation of Asbestos
fibers is dangerous to health.
Friable asbestos materials in
homes, industries and
appliances could lead to
serious asbestos related
diseases. Following people are
more vulnerable to
Asbestos-related diseases:
§ Works in industries and mines
§ Construct Buildings § Make
ceilings § Perform Ceiling
insulation
Apart from these persons all
other persons who live in
houses having asbestos
contaminated building material
or are involved in use or
repair of appliances and
products that contain asbestos
can also contact asbestos
diseases. This makes asbestos
home testing a necessary
process for all homes that are
built before 1980s and all the
people who are using appliances
and or products that could
contain asbestos materials.
Health Hazards Of Asbestos
Undamaged Asbestos cannot cause
any health hazards. When
asbestos is exposed to hitting,
rubbing, or extreme vibration,
its wear and tear occurs and
shows signs of abrasion.
Asbestos is only harmful, when
damaged, and its fiber gets
mixed with air. You can
determine the status and
stability of asbestos products
by asbestos home testing.
Asbestos home testing is
compulsory because asbestos
exposure could lead to fatal
diseases such as asbestosis,
lung cancer and mesothelioma
cancers. Asbestos may harm you
only if you inhale asbestos
fiber. There are no safe levels
of asbestos exposure and even
short-term exposure to asbestos
creates a possibility of your
catching any disease caused by
asbestos.
Removing Asbestos From Home
It is not possible to perform
asbestos testing in home. You
need qualified professional to
test the presence of asbestos
in your home. Asbestos
abatement is the process of
determining the status of
asbestos material and taking
corrective measures for
preventing risk of asbestos
exposure. It is not necessary
that you have to remove all the
asbestos material from your
home. You can also opt for
economic measures such as
enclosures and encapsulation
for preventing the risk of
asbestos exposure even without
removing the Asbestos
Containing Materials.
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos
and mesothelioma specialist
from Nashville, TN. Visit
http://www.asbestosblog.org/
for information on asbestos
reform, mesothelioma lawsuit
news, and more.
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It is important to note that many individuals have
experienced brief exposure and been just fine. The fine
asbestos particles are difficult to see and get rid of, so it
is common for them to remain in their air for long periods of
time thus increasing the risk of cancer. Smokers are at an
increased risk for side effects due to exposure.
If you think that your home may have asbestos there are several
places that you want to look. It is important to remember that
products today do not contain the fiber, only things built in
the 1970’s or earlier.
- Steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts could be insulated
with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape. If the fibers
become damaged or are repaired improperly, they could lead to
exposure.
- Resilient floor tiles- the backing on many vinyl sheet
flooring and adhesives could contain asbestos. Sanding the
tiles or scraping them could release the fibers.
- Cement, millboard, and paper that were used as insulation
around furnaces and wood burning stoves. Repairing or removing
these appliances could stir up the fibers.
- Door gaskets- in furnaces, wood stoves, and coal stoves.
- Sound proofing or decorative material sprayed on walls and
ceilings. Sanding, drilling or scraping the material could be
harmful.
- Cement roofing, shingles, and siding. This usually only cause
a problem when sawed, drilled, or cut.
If you think that you have asbestos in your home, don’t panic.
If the material is good condition, you can leave it alone. It
is only when these materials are disturbed that there is a
problem. If you find a damaged area- discard it using asbestos
gloves and a facial mask. Your local health or environmental
officials will be able to walk you through the proper disposal
procedure. Always check with them when beginning any remodeling
job.
Remember, the only way to find out if something contains
asbestos is to look at it under a microscope. Enlist the help
of a professional, and let them handle the details. They are
trained in such removal procedures and can help ensure the
safety of your family and loved ones.
About the Author
Kasi Jones is a freelance health writer and contributing
author to Asbestos
Center - a site providing free information on asbestos and
mesothelioma.
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