Asbestos Exposure in Old Homes

Asbestos Exposure in Old Homes

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance that was, unfortunately, used in a number of products up until the 1980s. Because of this, many older homes contain asbestos. Removal of asbestos is very important because it can cause a number of serious medical conditions. Sadly, asbestos was used in a number of ways in building, so you may be exposed via your floors, ceiling tiles, insulation, drywall, sheet rock, caulking, pumping, electrical system, roofing, paint, cement, fire place, and so forth. If you live in an older home, it is important to have that home tested for asbestos immediately.

Asbestos is a natural substance. That said, it is very unhealthy for you. This substance is very fibrous, meaning that microscopic pieces hang in the air whenever it is disturbed. Of course, as you work with it, these asbestos fibers not only fill the air, but also hang on your clothing and hair, as well as get into your body whenever you breathe or swallow. You may not even realize it since asbestos is odorless and tasteless.

Once inside your body, the asbestos fibers, which are jagged and sharp, tear up the soft tissue lining of your major organs, most often the lungs. This creates a host of problems and can lead to mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer. For additional information on asbestos cancer and mesothelioma treatment please see the resources at Asbestos.com

Removing the asbestos from you home or office building is extremely important. Keep in mind, however, that removing the asbestos is, in and of itself, a dangerous job. It is possible that any trace of asbestos-based product in your home is actually safer left undisturbed. A professional can help you decide what to do in terms of removal. The important thing is that you do ask for a professional to help. Doing home repairs and renovations can be quite dangerous if there is asbestos in the air.

There are four basic ways in which asbestos can be removed from your home. Talk to your asbestos professional about the techniques that should be used in your home. If you are going to remove the asbestos yourself, take some time to learn about each method so that you are prepared to remove the asbestos safely.

The first and most common form of asbestos removal is dry stripping. Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous ways to remove asbestos from your home or business area. It is common, however, because it is easy and minimizes risk to the surrounding building. Basically, dry stripping is simply removing the building materials (most commonly insulation) that contain the asbestos with, of course, the help of masks and other protective gear. Dry stripping is dangerous because the asbestos readily filled the air with fibers.

A second and safer process of removing asbestos is called controlled wet stripping. In this process, you inject water into the asbestos-ridden material, saturating it to control the fibers. Most professionals use this method because it is thought to be the safest way to remove the asbestos. However, if you do use this method, it is important to still wear protective gear. It is safer – but not safe.

Lastly, you can use air management and hot stripping to remove asbestos from your home. With this process, you direct air at the asbestos to basically push the fibers into a special vent. The air can get rather hot. Water is also used in this method to keep the fibers at bay, and a vacuuming technique is used to further keep the fibers from filling the air.

As you read, though, there are four techniques and only three listed above. The fourth technique is called high pressure water jetting. However, this process is extremely dangerous. It should never be used by homeowners for removing asbestos, and it should only be used by professionals when all other removal methods haven’t worked. High pressure water jetting is most commonly used in commercial building or ships – places where asbestos is found everywhere and there are a few tough patches that are hard to remove.

If you have been exposed to asbestos over the years due to the building materials used in your house, removal is usually the best option for protecting your health and the health of your family. Remember, though, that even if you are not experiencing any symptoms today, it is quite possible that asbestos is already in your body and doing damage. Asbestos takes its toll over time, and most people don’t notice health problems because they come on so slowly. Don’t wait until the asbestos is causing real respiratory problems and potentially deadly diseases. See your doctor today, and then talk to an asbestos lawyer to learn about your rights against those who caused your exposure to asbestos.

For more information on asbestos exposure and abatement please visit the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.