Exposure to Asbestos: Hazards in the Home

Guest post written by Brian Turner, brian.turner752@gmail.com

If you live in a home built before 1980, planning home renovations and do-it-yourself projects must include the search for lingering remnants of old asbestos insulation and products that may be part of the home’s construction. Resilient tiles for decoration or soundproofing, the insulation of hot water heaters, piping for furnaces, and repair patching materials on walls and ceilings are popular areas for the use of asbestos products. The removal of these construction materials must be accomplished carefully and without the danger of asbestos contamination that is related to serious disease and conditions.

Decide on the Method of Removal of Asbestos

Once these materials are identified, it is very important to decide on the method of removal. Special asbestos abatement teams are available for professional removal, and may be the best choice for safety. If a homeowner decides to remove the dangerous material themselves, removal must be accomplished without causing fibers to become airborne and ingested into the stomach or inhaled into the lungs. The proper masks and protective eye covering and clothing may be needed to protect the homeowner and family members from the debris and dust of asbestos particles during remodeling, renovation and removal.

Health Risks Associated with Asbestos

Asbestos contamination may cause serious illness, cancer, and even death if the fibers are inhaled, ingested, or spread on clothing to family members. Once the fibers are in the lungs, abdominal lining, heart, and other parts of the body, they cause irritation and promote unhealthy changes in the body tissues. Asbestos ingestion is strongly related to several diseases that have poor prognosis and no known cures.

• Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused by breathing in the asbestos fibers that cause malignant tumors in the thin lining of the lungs and chest, abdominal lining and the heart.
• Asbestosis is a non-cancerous and serious-progressive form of asbestos contamination that affects the lungs and decreases the ability to breath overtime.

For more information visit www.mesothelioma.com