Reasons to consider Asbestos Removal for Home or Business

Imagine being a lifetime non-smoker, having no drinking history, and always eating healthy. Still, one day upon checking week-long difficulty in breathing, your report says you contracted lung cancer. How about doing something as minor as taking photographs of a factory that you didn’t know manufactured Asbestos or being miles away from Asbestos testing and contracting cancer at home from the work clothes of a family member who, by a miracle, all right but cancer found you.

These are a handful of real incidents from an estimated 40,000 global cancer cases caused by mesothelioma (Asbestos induced cancer) each year and ending thousands of lives. Around 80% of Mesothelioma cases are directly caused by Asbestos exposure, 20% of the remaining cases involve this cancer being passed on from parents to children or from certain extremely rare radiations.

Asbestos, how is it Dangerous?

Asbestos is not one single material but a name given to a group of 6 minerals characterised by fragile and glossy fibres. Different products produced from Asbestos could range from building materials like cement pipes, vinyl floors and walls, fire or electrical equipment and automobile parts to makeup or plastic products; how could it be dangerous, you would think?

Mesothelioma:

In simpler terms, it is the cancer of the inner lining of your body that can fail your lungs, heart, abdomen & ovaries from functioning. Asbestos is composed of extremely fine and small, sharp fibre-like structures that, when disturbed by the contained material (cement, roof, floor, paint, insulation) the fibres get dispersed in the air ending up inside the lining (mesothelium) of the lungs, heart or abdomen, the body is unable to break these fibres. They remain in their state, causing inflammation and death of cells that develop cancer. In almost all cases, the initial exposure to Asbestos cannot be detected, and the signs of discomfort may not appear until cancer has developed.

Risk Factors, who is in Danger:

It may be a total surprise that such a slow yet effective poison may be present right above you in your popcorn ceiling or behind you on the cement walls, vinyl floors, paint, sealants, and automobiles. So, pretty much everyone can be at a surprise risk of being affected. Those most frequently affected include;

● Firefighters

● Construction workers

● Automobile manufacturing or repairing staff.

● People working in industries that use Asbestos

● Military Personnel

● Family of people exposed to work clothes or equipment of all these people.

Risk Assessment by Types & Products:

The six types of Asbestos are used for different purposes based on their properties, and you can expect each type to be present in the products mentioned below so that you can better analyse the report or assess the threat on your own. All of the following groups are characterised by having fibrous structures. You would frequently encounter the terms; Serpentine & Amphibole in Asbestos analysis or Asbestos clearance reports.

I. The serpentine Family

This family of Asbestos contains only one known type, i.e., Chrysotile or often termed White Asbestos; this group is characterised by having long, round end fibres that are layered upon one another. It has incredible resistance against fibre, and the soft nature of fibres makes them an ideal subject to be used in construction. This is the most common type of Asbestos responsible for mesothelioma cases. It can be commonly expected in cement, plastic, rubber, gaskets, and automobile braking system.

II. Amphibole Family

This family contains the remaining five of the six types of Asbestos that even altogether aren’t used as much as Chrysotile; however, these types often end up as contaminants and make their way to cause severe cases of mesothelioma; these types are usually distinguished from the serpentine group by having short, straight and pointy fibres that can pose a greater degree of risk when taken up during breathing.

· Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos):

It appears grey-blue and light green in appearance and offers meagre heat resistance but has excellent tensile strength, so it was used in a small range of products such as an additive in types of cement or tiles and paints. The fibres are wonderful and can quickly disperse in the air, making them all the more toxic.

· Tremolite & Amosite:

The two types occur in various colours but are not known for much industrial or commercial use. However, other types of Asbestos could have trace amounts of these two, or they could be found in further mineral reserves as contaminants ending up in a product they weren’t supposed to be in, such as cement, talc, and clothing material. Tremolite has often been reported to cause cancer, while Amosite has been analysed extensively & recognised as the most dangerous type. So, if you ever see these two mentioned in an analysis report by an asbestos testing service or home kit, beware!

· Anthophyllite

It is rarely found in commercial products; it appears brown to yellowish or even grey in colour. In places built two or more decades ago, this could be present in the cement as insulating material. etc.

· Actinolite:

It is also a rare form of Asbestos not commonly expected in many materials; however, it has been used in paints, sealants and plasters, so the paint in older buildings, whether inhabited or abandoned, could become a source of poisoning.

Asbestos Regulations:

In the mid-twentieth century, Asbestos was a widely used mined substance worldwide; in the USA alone, more than a hundred thousand tons of Asbestos was mined annually between the 1960s and 70s; even today, Russia, China and Brazil continue to mine Asbestos. The USA has regulated asbestos import but did not ban it completely; Australia and UK have strict policies against Asbestos import and its use in consumer products, especially building materials. You can adopt several approaches towards testing and removing Asbestos from the home or workplace.

Also Read: The Importance of Asbestos Testing

Asbestos Testing & Removal:

Nothing is more precious than Health or, in a broad context, life itself. At the same time, you may not control an incident or material harbouring Asbestos. It is now possible to get your home or business place tested for detection, assessment, and removal of Asbestos. The testing can be done independently, although not encouraged or recommended, while detailed inspection and removal requires an Asbestos testing services expert.

Whether your primary concern is to test for Asbestos or not, if you plan to remodel or renovate your home, it is best that initial testing is performed and you get an Asbestos clearance report. Such materials or reports are industrially referred to as ACM (Asbestos Containing Material)

Asbestos or not, what should I do?

Now that you know the types and materials that could probably contain Asbestos, you still need a certified and trained Asbestos Inspector to analyse the building and can take samples of some building materials to a facility to analyse the quantity of Asbestos contained and later check for three main possibilities.

Materials that do contain Asbestos but are Not Damaged:

These won’t spread Asbestos unless damaged by fire, natural disasters, or construction work. etc.

Materials that contain Asbestos and are slightly Damaged:

Such materials can be recognised and dealt with by the Asbestos Testing service; after detecting the extent of damage, the material, if large, can be sealed or covered by special chemicals that would keep the asbestos fibres adhered, preventing their dispersal. Do not attempt to repair on your own, do not use tools or disturb the exposed material in any way.

Materials that contain Asbestos and are greatly Damaged:

These materials are high risk, and whatever the size or an easy job their removal seems, it should always be left to trained professionals, and you may be asked to keep a distance till they do their job.

Can I use a home testing kit?

Some countries allow the sale of low-cost Asbestos testing kits to consumers who may not want to approach a proper agency worrying about the procedure cost. Although the procedures don’t cost that much, some nations even allow compensation if you bought a property with Asbestos in most materials. The kit is not often recommended by health experts, fearing that the person may avoid all safety guidelines and get exposed to asbestos fibres while trying to rest. Your clothes, tools, and shoes could have scraped off Asbestos, and it may end up in someone from your family later. With all the necessary precautions you need to keep your family away, get a piece of personal protective equipment, take samples, get it tested by a laboratory and carefully dispose of all the clothes and tools.