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The Dangers of
Asbestos in Your Home
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral
fiber found in rocks, of naturally occurring silicate minerals that
can be separated into fibers. There are several kinds of asbestos
fibers, all of which are fire resistant and not easily destroyed
or degraded by natural processes. The fibers are strong, durable,
and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible,
so that they can even be woven into cloth, because of these qualities,
asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime,
automotive, scientific and building products.
During the twentieth
century, some 30 million tons of asbestos have been used in industrial
sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the
United States. There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which
three have been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile,
or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very widely
used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine
rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from southern Africa.
(3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and
Australia.
Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos has been
shown to cause cancer of the lung and stomach according to studies
of workers and others exposed to asbestos. There is no level of
exposure to asbestos fibers that experts can assure is completely
safe. Some asbestos materials can break into small fibers which
can float in the air and these fibers can be inhaled. The tiny fibers
are so small they can not be seen with the naked eye. They can pass
through the filters of normal vacuum cleaners and get back into
the air. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in tissue
for a long time. After many years cancer or mesothelioma can develop.
Are All products
With Asbestos A Health Risk?
No. A health risk
exists only when asbestos fibers are released from the material
or product. Soft, easily crumbled asbestos containing material has
the greatest potential for asbestos release and therefore has the
greatest potential to create health risks.
Do All People
Exposed To Asbestos, Develop Asbestos Related Disease?
No. Most people exposed
to small amounts of asbestos do not develop any related health problems.
Health studies of asbestos workers and others, however, show that
the chances of developing some serious illnesses, included lung
cancer, are greater after exposure to asbestos.
What Are Asbestos-Containing
Products?
What is common to
many asbestos-containing products is that they were (are) used to
contain heat (i.e. thermal insulation.) This was the main reason
for their use. It is impossible to list all of the products that
have, at one time or another, contained asbestos. One of the most
common products asbestos is found in, is in the insulation material
found on heating pipes and ducts of homes built before 1960.
Some of the other common asbestos-containi
ng products are insulating
cement, insulating block, asbestos cloth, gaskets, packing materials,
thermal seals, refractory and boiler insulation materials, transite
board, asbestos cement pipe, fireproofing spray, joint compound,
vinyl floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics, adhesives, coatings, acoustical
textures, duct & pipe insulation for heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) systems, roofing products, insulated electrical
wire and panels, and brake and clutch assemblies.
How Can I tell
If I Have Asbestos In My Home?
People who have frequently
worked with asbestos (such as plumbers, building contractors or
heating contractors) often are able to make a reasonable judgment
about whether or not a material contains asbestos on a visual inspection.
Many professional home inspectors also can make a reasonable visual
judgment. To be absolutely certain, an industrial hygienist would
have to make the identification.
If Asbestos Is
Found In My Home, What Should I Do?
In most cases, asbestos
containing materials are best left alone.
When it is necessary
to disturb asbestos, you should contact a licensed asbestos contractor.
You can also obtain a copy of Asbestos in the Home published by
the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (800-638-2772) which
discusses the situation and makes recommendations. Remember, do
not dust, sweep, or vacuum particles suspected of containing asbestos
fibers.
If
you want "Peace Of Mind" for
your next
home purchase, plus lots of extra value, then
give Certainty Home Inspections a call
Today
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