When it comes to your home, there is nothing like knowing it is a safe and healthy environment. However, in many homes asbestos still lingers, and it’s a very serious danger when it’s disturbed.
Although it’s relatively common knowledge that asbestos is unsafe, a lot of people don’t know what exactly it is and why it’s so serious. This article on Asbestos.com explains:
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that once was lauded for its versatility, recognized for its heat resistance, tensile strength and insulating properties, and used for everything from fire-proof vests to home and commercial construction. It was woven into fabric, and mixed with cement.
Its properties were so desired that the United States military mandated its use in every branch of service. Asbestos was a perfect blend to make things better – except it was highly toxic, too.
Today asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma cancer, is banned in more than 50 countries (not the U.S.), and its use has been dramatically restricted in others.
When inhaled, asbestos is unable to be broken down by the immune system in the lungs, and it causes severe damage. It can take decades before a person exposed to asbestos shows signs of illness, but its effects are very fast once symptoms appear.
This article from AsbestosNetwork.com describes where asbestos can be found and how it gets disturbed:
Is There Asbestos in My Home?
Asbestos becomes a hazard when it is airborne. If asbestos in the home becomes damaged, asbestos fibers may be released. For example, when asbestos insulation around boilers, furnaces, and pipes deteriorates, it releases asbestos dust.
Blown ceilings containing asbestos may release fibers when they are drilled or patched. If the ceilings are in poor condition, air movement from ceiling fans and opening and closing draperies may spread asbestos dust.
Asbestos transite pipes, which have been used underground to transport water to the home and in some flue pipes, may pose another problem. Transite is an asbestos-containing cement material which deteriorates over time. As the transite deteriorates, asbestos fibers can be released from the interior of the pipe into the drinking water flowing through the pipe.
Since asbestos becomes a danger the moment it is disturbed, and because it’s impossible to tell if something contains asbestos without it being lab tested, it’s never a good idea to attempt to find out if your home has asbestos in it.
If you have any suspicions, always contact a trained professional who can detect it for you and help you work out a plan to have it safely dealt with.
This article from the Ministry of Health informs people of what to do should your home have asbestos in it:
Preventing exposure to asbestos
Testing a sample in an approved analytical laboratory is the only way to find out if a material contains asbestos.
If you need to get a sample tested, contact a health protection officer at the public health unit of your local district health board (DHB). They will tell you what to do. Do not obtain a sample without consulting them first.
If you have asbestos in your home
If there is asbestos or asbestos-containing material (confirmed by laboratory analysis) in your home, you should talk with your health protection officer about:
- leaving it as it is, disturbing it as little as possible
- sealing, encapsulating or enclosing it
- removing it.
Asbestos-containing material on decorative ceilings, walls or flooring is not likely to be a health risk unless it is damaged, deteriorating or crumbly. If the material is poorly bonded, damaged or deteriorating, fibres may be released into the air. This material should be sealed, encapsulated, enclosed or removed.
Sealing is done by applying paint to the surface. When hardened this stops the release of loose asbestos dust.
Encapsulation is when asbestos-containing-material is coated with a material that soaks through the asbestos-containing-material and hardens, stopping the release of loose asbestos fibres.
Enclosing is when a construction is placed around the asbestos-containing-material (like a false wall) to contain the asbestos.
Your health and safety is the primary concern when it comes to dealing with asbestos. Don’t hesitate to take action if you suspect your home could have materials containing asbestos in it.
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