Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know at Get The Lead Out that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:
- lung cancer;
- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and
- asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.
The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. (photo at left is a cancerous lung from asbestos)
Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.
Examples of Where Asbestos Hazards May Be Found In The Home
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Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.
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Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.
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Attic and wall insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from a Libby, Montana mine, may contain asbestos fibers.
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Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.
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Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.
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Older products such as stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.
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Walls and floors around wood burning stoves may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.
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Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
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Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.
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Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.
Get The Lead Out can provide Charlotte asbestos testing to discover if asbestos is present around your home. Call us at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz to learn more about asbestos and asbestos management. There is no need to panic or live in fear of possible asbestos present in your home. We can help you accurately determine if asbestos is present or not!
