Humans have used naturally found asbestos for thousands of years; the material has excellent fire –resistant properties and when mixed with cement and other materials, asbestos was widely used in many industries. The demand for asbestos increased during the Industrial Revolution and major exporters were Russian and Canadian mines, supplying hundreds of thousands of tons and it was around the 1970s when we finally made the connection with asbestos and lung disease.
Respiratory Disease
Asbestos factory workers in the 1920s were found to suffer from forms of lung cancer, including asbestosis and by the 1970s, developed countries began to ban the use of asbestos across all industries. Diseases like asbestosis were caused by over exposure to asbestos and when a sheet made from compressed asbestos is cut or broken, this releases many minute slivers of asbestos into the atmosphere, which, if inhaled, can become trapped in a person’s lungs. This would not be apparent for a number of years, and with the asbestos slivers caught in the lung tissue, inflammation occurs and this can lead to the emergence of cancer.
Contaminated Buildings
As the construction industry made good use of asbestos-related products pre-1970 and any structure that was built before that time would likely have asbestos present. If you think your home might contain asbestos, search online for asbestos removal prices in Perth and ask the professionals to carry out on-site tests to determine the presence of this harmful material. If asbestos is present in your home, it does not present any immediate danger, yet when the material is disturbed, tiny slivers can become airborne and if inhaled by a person, could seriously harm their health.
Asbestos Removal
Such was the extent of asbestos-related materials that here in Australia, there is a booming asbestos removal sector that is tasked with the identification and safe removal of asbestos in Australian homes and offices. When a homeowner is planning a renovation, they can make contact with asbestos removal professionals who can test for the presence and if found, can be safely removed.
Building Materials That Might Contain Asbestos
If your home was built before 1970, it could contain asbestos in the following forms:
- Loose asbestos for loft insulation.
- Lagging & insulation pipe cover.
- Sprayed coatings.
- Asbestos insulation board.
- Floor and wall tiles.
- Roofing felt.
- Asbestos-cement products.
If you even suspect that your home might contain asbestos, rather than take a chance, you are advised to contact an asbestos removal contractor and let them carry out some tests. In the event they discover asbestos, the team are fully equipped to remove it safely and you can carry on with your home improvement project.
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