One of the most dreaded things to find in any home is asbestos. Asbestos was a material used commonly in construction until the point that its use was outlawed—and for good reason! It was discovered to be incredibly dangerous to human health, prompting its prohibition of use.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six different naturally occurring fibrous minerals chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. It grew in popularity because of its strength and heat resistance. It was added to other common construction materials, such as asphalt, concrete, joint compounds, and so on.
It was only in the late 1970s that the health risks associated with asbestos were discovered. These days, it is designated as a deadly carcinogen and has been excluded from the list of accepted household construction materials.
What Are the Likely Asbestos Hotspots in My Home?
The peak of the use of asbestos was in homes constructed any time between 1940 and 1970. It was mostly used in the following ways:
- In basement boilers and pipes
- As HVAC duct insulation
- Plaster
- Vinyl tile floors
- Caulking
- Ceiling tiles
- Shingles
- Blown-in attic insulation
How Is It Dangerous?
Asbestos is not necessarily dangerous if left alone. However, once released into the air through damage or wear and tear, they can pose a few dangers. Asbestos also becomes dangerous when it is “friable.” This is a term that refers specifically to the crumbling of asbestos fibres in construction materials, which may release them into the air.
As such, older homes that need renovation are at greater risk for possessing and introducing asbestos to human respiration.
What Are These Dangers?
Frequent or long-term exposure to asbestos can lead to severe complications in the respiratory system. The body has few mechanisms in place for the removal of asbestos in the lungs. More often than not, they become trapped in the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity, or even the heart.
There are two conditions commonly associated with asbestos: asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in the protective tissues covering the lungs and abdomen. The problem, however, is that the symptoms from asbestos-related mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to appear. That means that, by the time the symptoms appear, it might be too late for the patient.
Asbestosis, on the other hand, is a chronic lung disease resulting from asbestos fibres causing scarring in the lung tissue. This may cause shortness of breath, loss of appetite, a dry cough, and pain or tightness in the chest. Like mesothelioma, the symptoms appear quite late in the body, presenting anywhere from 10 to 40 years down the line.
There are plenty of other conditions associated with long-term asbestos exposure, such as enlargement of the heart, laryngitis, a weakened immune system, and more.
How Do I Identify Asbestos in My Home?
Some visual signs of asbestos in the home include uninsulated pipes with white or grey insulation remnants on the fittings or an outline of flooring tiles in nine-inch square patterns. This was a common size for tiles that contained asbestos.
Without the inspection of an expert, however, there are few ways for you to determine whether or not your home has any asbestos. To that end, an asbestos building inspector should be hired to determine whether there is any asbestos that needs to be removed. They are sure to have the right asbestos testing technologies for the job. If any sign of this harmful material is discovered, it might be best to enlist asbestos removal services.
Final Thoughts
While it may take quite some time for the health effects of asbestos to set in, creating and renovating your home so that it is safe for all inhabitants is paramount. For a homeowner, this means the health and safety of your family; for a landlord, this means avoiding hefty and expensive lawsuits. Whatever the case may be, the presence of asbestos is not something you can abide. Asbestos removal services are the way to go.
If you are in need of asbestos testing and asbestos removal services in Calgary, send us at Nationwide Restorations a message. We can keep your family safe from asbestos-related illnesses.