Many people today are in the business of buying older homes (a fixer-upper) for the purpose of remodeling them for sale on the market. When contemplating the purchase of a home that is twenty-five or more years old, one concern you should have, is Asbestos.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral consisting of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and other metal ions, forming into small needle shaped fibers that can only be seen in the air in heavy concentrations. This mineral was commonly used in insulation of buildings, building materials, automotive products, and textile products like blankets and gloves due to the strength and flexibility of the fibers, and the fact that they were flame resistant.
In the early 1970s the U.S. government banned the production of most products containing asbestos. This ban was due to the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos containing materials. However, products containing asbestos continued to be installed in buildings and materials into the early 1980s, making it likely that a home built during this time would contain asbestos.
Even if asbestos containing materials are in a home you’re considering for purchase or remodel, this is normally not a serious issue. The presence of materials containing asbestos in a home or a building is not dangerous in itself. The danger lies in the fact that these materials may become damaged, and may release asbestos fibers into the air, thus becoming a health hazard.
Health Hazards
Most health information on the hazards of asbestos exposure has come from studies of people who contracted asbestos-related diseases. Of those findings, it appears that the vast majority of these people were exposed to high doses of asbestos during the course of their employment. Based on these results, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that even though the risks were lower in those not regularly exposed to asbestos, any exposure to asbestos fibers was dangerous.
The danger of exposure to asbestos is through inhalation of asbestos fibers, which have been directly linked to a number of health problems and diseases. Below are four of the most common health problems. It is worth noting that most people are exposed to small amounts of asbestos in their daily lives, and these people are not considered to be at risk to develop any of these health problems.
Asbestosis, a chronic scarring and hardening of the lungs, is caused by heavy and long-time exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous, slowly-progressive disease that is characterized by shortness of breath, coughing, and a dry crackling sound made while inhaling.
Similar to Asbestosis, Pleural Plaque and Thickening is non-cancerous condition related to scarring of the lining of the lungs, causing the person to have difficulty breathing, and to be at risk for other complications due to impaired lung function.
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer discovered in persons that have had long-time exposure to asbestos. Combined with smoking, a person who has had long-term exposure to asbestos is more likely to contract lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare life-threatening cancer that affects the thin membranes that line the chest and abdominal cavities and surrounding organs. According to studies, asbestos exposure has been linked to practically every case of Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can affect people many years after only a short-term exposure to asbestos, even potentially affecting family members exposed to a person’s clothing contaminated with asbestos.
Where Asbestos May Be Found
Most products manufactured today do not contain asbestos, and ones that do contain this mineral are required by law to be clearly labeled as such. However, if the home or building was constructed twenty-five or more years ago, it may have materials containing asbestos. These may include: insulation in roof, walls, basements, and around furnaces and pipes; vinyl floor tiles; sheet rock or wallboard; wall patching materials or joint compounds; roof shingles and siding; artificial ashes and embers contained in gas fireplaces.
What to Do
The best way to handle asbestos material that is in good condition is to leave it alone as disturbing it may create a hazard to health where it did not previously exist. There is no danger unless asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. However, if you suspect material to contain asbestos and it is already damaged or the likelihood of it being damaged is great, then the solution is to hire a professional asbestos abatement company to remove the material safely. Physically and emotionally, you’ll feel better once you do.
Latest Videos of About Asbestos:
home-inspection
