Handling Asbestos in the Home
Every property owner is rightfully fearful of asbestos. Asbestos, while a suitable material, can cause severe health issues during prolonged exposure. If you own a home or building at risk, asbestos testing can identify whether you need help. When the material may cause harm to your family or the building’s occupants, asbestos removal is an urgent matter.
How can you handle asbestos in the home? Asbestos can be difficult to manage, but you should be aware of the health risks associated with exposure. We’ll cover some of the most common complications related to asbestos and educate you on how to act for the safety of yourself and others.
Preventing Common Health Risks
Asbestos was a popular insulator in homes built before the 1980s. Even though the material is harmless when left undisturbed, friable asbestos can be released into the air. When this happens, harmful asbestos fibers can work their way into your lungs and cause numerous problems with your health. To promote asbestos testing, here are just a few of the most common conditions resulting from asbestos exposure:
- Peritoneal Effusions – This condition refers to a buildup of fluid in the space surrounding the lungs. Patients suffering from effusions suffer from shortness of breath and pain while breathing.
- Pericardial Effusions – Fluid can also build up between the layers of membranes surrounding your heart after asbestos exposure. This results in chest pain and added shortness of breath for affected people.
- Asbestosis – This chronic lung disease can develop after exposure to fibers. This condition results in scarring of the lung tissue and causes severe cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and even clubbed fingers.
- Mesothelioma and Various Cancers – Mesothelioma is a condition where multiple tumors form on the lining of the lungs, stomach, and heart. Most people diagnosed with this condition live less than one year after the prognosis. Additionally, various cancers may form after exposure, including lung, laryngeal, bile duct, gallbladder, and kidney cancer.
Asbestos Testing and Removal
With the consequences in mind, it’s easy to see the need for asbestos testing and removal, especially if this material is present within a property where people spend large amounts of time. But which one do you need?
We mentioned before that sometimes asbestos doesn’t need to be removed, especially if it remains undisturbed. To determine if the material is unsafe and needs to be removed, you’ll need to partner with someone to conduct asbestos testing. During this process, a team of professionals will evaluate multiple places on your property to determine its safety. If the material is deemed unsafe, they may recommend asbestos removal.
It’s essential to partner with professionals for asbestos removal. The removal process requires specialized safety equipment, protection, and removal protocols. Due to the severity of the material, only certified organizations should conduct asbestos removal. If you have asbestos in the home that needs to be removed, partner with a team of experts to safely remove the harmful substance and make your home safe for you and your loved ones.
For the best asbestos testing and removal, partner with Pure Breathing Solutions. Our team of professionals performs these two services with an unmatched degree of expertise. To get started, contact us by visiting our page.