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The increasing importance of Asbestos testing

Asbestos is actually a natural mineral found in rock and has been used as a material for building homes for many decades. Nowadays, it’s not used for homes but can still be found in old buildings. Moreover, it is still used in flooring, ceiling and cement materials.

Health Problems Caused by Asbestos

Although asbestos is a natural substance, it can cause some serious health problems when inhaled. If someone inhales a large amount of asbestos, it becomes lodged in the lungs and remains there. The presence of asbestos in the lungs can cause inflammation and other kinds of harmful diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Whether the concentration of asbestos can affect your health depends on different factors:

  • If you smoke or already have lung disease
  • The concentration of asbestos in the air
  • How often you are exposed
  • Size, type, and shape of the fibers

People who smoke or already have lung disease have a greater risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. However, the disease takes 15 to 25 years to develop after the exposure.

Who is at Risk?

Asbestos can only affect someone if it is released in the air and breathed in. The houses built before 1990 are most likely to contain asbestos. Common places where you can find it in your home is around a furnace pipe or duct. Actually, asbestos is a great insulator to heat and electricity. It was commonly used to make a building fireproof. The demand for asbestos increased in the second world war and after it ended. Many companies started to sell it commercially. Later, it was discovered that it can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Nowadays, the use of asbestos is banned all over the world but still, a large amount of it can found in old buildings. Unfortunately, some developing countries are still using this material.

It only causes problems when the fibers are released into the air. However, asbestos that is enclosed behind building walls, bound tightly in an intact product, and isolated in attics are less risky. However, there are still chances that it can be released in the air. That is why people who live in older buildings want to take proper precautions before having it removed. They don’t want to risk it being released into the air. You should hire a professional for asbestos testing in your home, especially if it was built before 1990.

How Can You Make Your Home Safe?

Well, if you have an old home, then you must regularly check the insulation material and make sure that it is not coming apart. If it does come apart, you must not disturb it as it can increase the amount of asbestos dust in your home. The best thing to do would be to contact an asbestos removal company and let them remove the asbestos from your home. Moreover, there are some materials that look like asbestos but are actually fiberglass-based insulators and do not lead to  any health risks. If you are not sure, then either send a sample to an expert or contact a professional asbestos removal company.