Exposure to asbestos is a concern for some people, particularly those who work in industries that have used a lot of this material over several decades. Continued exposure can cause major health issues including mesothelioma. What not everyone realizes, though, is that asbestos can be lurking in unexpected places, including family homes.
Materials containing asbestos were used in homes for many years, and only over the last several decades was its use restricted. Now, older homes can be sites of contamination, especially when a family takes on a renovation. If you unknowingly expose or destroy asbestos-containing materials during a home renovation, it can cause fibers to get into the air. Know where to find asbestos, and if you think you have it in your home, call in the experts before beginning a remodeling job.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Fibers of asbestos, when inhaled, often get lodged in lungs and airways where they can accumulate with prolonged exposure and cause damage. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to a number of health conditions. These include pleural effusion, a buildup of fluid in the space between the chest wall and the lungs, pleural plaque, a thickening of the tissue around the lungs, and asbestosis, scarring in the lungs.
Asbestos exposure has also been linked to several types of lung cancer. Although rare, asbestos inhalation is also the leading risk factor for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs. This type of cancer is very aggressive, spreads quickly, and is often not diagnosed until it is too late to cure it.
Restrictions on Asbestos in the Home
This natural mineral has been used in building for thousands of years because it resists heat, fire, electricity, and chemicals. When it was discovered that the fibers could become airborne and cause these illnesses, restrictions were put in place. In the U.S. since the mid-1970s there have been important regulations regarding the use of asbestos.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started banning certain asbestos-containing building materials in 1973 and banned almost all of them in 1989. That last ban, however, was overturned in 1991 by the federal courts system. Today the U.S. is one of few developed nations that have not completely banned asbestos. It is still used in many home building materials, but the asbestos in these products should be contained and prevented from becoming airborne.
Asbestos-Containing Products
According to the EPA bans that still stand, there are certain products containing asbestos that may not be used. These include rollboard, corrugated paper, flooring felt, and commercial or specialty paper. Certain types of spray-applied surfacing materials and pipe insulation are also banned along with wall patching compound and artificial fireplace embers with asbestos. Furthermore, any so-called new uses, or products that did not historically have asbestos may not now contain the mineral.
Because of the overturn of the 1989 EPA ban there are several building materials and other products that may still contain asbestos. These include vinyl floor tiles, cement flat sheet and corrugated sheet, roofing felt, roof coatings, cement pipe, cement shingle, millboard, pipeline wrap, and non-roofing coatings.
How to Spot Asbestos While Remodeling
Even modern homes may contain asbestos because of the overturned ban on products and materials with asbestos. However, it is older homes, those built before the bans began in the 1970s, that pose the greatest risks. Any remodeling project on an older home needs to include a plan for finding any asbestos, and for containing or removing the mineral if it is discovered. If you are worried about asbestos and do not want to take the risk of moving forward with a project, you can contact a licensed asbestos contractor to determine if you have any of the material in your home.
Because there are risks associated with inhaling asbestos fibers, it is important to be aware of where this mineral may be in your home. In many cases asbestos is well enclosed, which keeps the fibers contained and protects people in the home from exposure. However, as you knock into walls, remove plumbing fixtures and pipes, and do other remodeling work you may be exposing asbestos and contaminating the air in the house. There are some places that are most likely to have asbestos:
- Older vinyl and linoleum tiles and the glue used to adhere them to the floor.
- Flat roofing materials.
- Insulation around HVAC ducts, furnaces, and pipes.
- Outdoor siding.
- Caulking and glazing for windows.
- Decorative plaster.
- Drywall patching and joint compound.
If you demolish or remove something in your home and see a white, fibrous material breaking apart, it may or may not be asbestos. It really isn’t possible to tell if you have asbestos unless you are an expert and know what to look for. If you aren’t sure, the best solution is to evacuate the home and call in a trained professional. Asbestos abatement professionals can either contain asbestos that was exposed in your home or remove it, but you should never try to do the job yourself.
Asbestos Abatement
Identifying, containing, or removing asbestos must be done by trained professionals. The risks of exposure are too great to attempt to do this without professional assistance. There are licensed asbestos abatement professionals who can test for asbestos, and then deal with it in a way that makes a home safe for its residents.
An abatement professional or removal contractor will use the appropriate procedures and safety equipment to remove and dispose of exposed asbestos. Or, alternatively, this professional can contain the asbestos. This involves leaving it in place, but encapsulating it in such a way that the fibers cannot become airborne and pose a risk to people in the home.
As you plan to remodel your home, the best way to avoid being exposed to asbestos is to call in the professionals before you do any work. Find out if you have asbestos in your home, if any of it is at risk of being damaged as you do your work or if it is already damaged. Taking these steps first could save you a lot of trouble and expense later, not to mention you and your family’s health.
No comments:
Post a Comment