What Is Asbestos Exposure And Why Should You Care?

Asbestos is basically a minerals group that includes very thin, microscopic fibers. The fibers are highly resistant to fire, chemicals and heat. They will not conduct electricity. All these characteristics were perfect for the some industries and the minerals were used a lot in the past. The problem is that various studies highlighted the fact that asbestos exposure is extremely dangerous for humans. When the fibers are released and they become airborne, they end up trapped inside the lungs. That will lead to various problems, including:

Pneumonia – can become deadly if you get it after surgery.

Asbestosis – a lungs inflammatory condition

Lung cancer

Mesothelioma

Various other lung problems

Risks And Causes For Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure can appear in your workplace, in the community or at home. The problem is that asbestos was used in many different products and building materials after the 1800s. Health concerns and federal regulations currently drastically reduced the use of the groups of minerals but whenever renovating, it is possible to end up with exposure if it is not done properly.

Every single person out there that is exposed is at risk of developing an asbestos related disease. The problem is that you may be exposed without even knowing it. For instance, some people just made renovations and did not know that asbestos was used in their home. Also, after the September 11 attack on World Trade Center, it is a problem as asbestos was utilized in the North Tower’s construction.

Asbestos exposure affects people based on different factors like:

Asbestos fiber shape, chemical makeup and size

Exposure length

The quantity of asbestos the person was exposed to

Other lung disease presence

It should be added that smoking will also increase the problems risk associated to asbestos exposure.

There are so many different types of asbestos when referring to form. All of them are seen as being hazardous but various different fiber types can be associated with various health risks. As a simple example, some studies suggested that the amphibole form will be a lot harmful that the chrysotile form. This is especially true when referring to mesothelioma risk.

Work With Professionals For Asbestos Removal

If you plan to make renovations in your home and the building was built a long time ago, it is vital that you check and see if asbestos was used in building materials. This can only be done in a lab. You should call specialists that know how to handle asbestos removal. There is a need to use special security gear and all people that actually perform the removal should know what they are doing.

We warmly recommend that you only work with a company that is certified and that has been around for a long time. That is what guarantees high quality results and you can be sure that asbestos removal is completely eliminated.

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Article written for Eco Childs Play by the team of Focus Demolition – professionals in asbestos removal for Western Australia.