The Importance Of Asbestos Testing In Homes

Asbestos testing in homes is an important process that should never be overlooked, especially if you want to keep your house safe to live in for you and your family. This naturally occurring mineral fiber has the ability to resist fire and insulate heat, and before the 1970s, was a primary component added to a variety of construction materials to keep them strong and durable. When these construction materials are repaired, damaged or improperly removed, they may release harmful asbestos fibers, which can be detrimental to your family\’s health. This is why a thorough home asbestos test should always be considered when moving into or renovating a house.

It is not easy to identify construction materials that contain asbestos simply by looking. The best thing to do is to get it analyzed by qualified professionals since they are the ones who know just what to look for. Let them take the samples they need for analysis by themselves and never attempt to do it on your own. Sampling that is done poorly may put your home at risk of asbestos exposure, which is never good for you and your family\’s well-being. Construction materials that possibly contain asbestos which are intact and in no danger of being disturbed by renovations should best be left untouched, unless you absolutely need to test for asbestos.

Asbestos in textured ceiling is not an uncommon thing, especially for old houses built before the 70s. Asbestos in floor tiles should be considered just as well. Other construction materials that could contain asbestos include:

– Furnaces

– Steam pipes

– Woodburning stoves

– Soundproofing material

– Textured Paints

The importance of asbestos testing in homes can never be emphasized enough, especially when you consider the various health problems asbestos inhalation can give. The longer a person\’s exposure is to asbestos, the greater is his chance of developing any of the various lung diseases that usually take several years to develop. If you suspect possible asbestos exposure in your home, it wouldn\’t hurt to get your family and yourself checked up by a qualified pulmonologist.

Be careful not to sweep, dust or disturb in any other way debris suspected of containing asbestos. Wet mopping them instead would be a better choice. Disturbed asbestos fibers, when released into the air, pose very serious health risks when inhaled in substantial amounts. These fibers will settle and embed themselves in lung tissue and the build-up may result in any of the following lung diseases:

– Lung Cancer. The largest number of people who died of asbestos exposure did so due to complications brought on by this type of cancer. Common symptoms include an unusual change in breathing patterns, coughing, chest pain and anemia.

– Asbestosis. Although seemingly not as threatening as cancer, this type of lung cancer is serious business, nevertheless. It is long-term, progressive, and untreatable. Most common symptoms include difficulty in breathing and crackling, dry sounds in the lungs during inhalation.

– Mesotheliona. Another lung disease that necessitates asbestos testing in homes is this rare form of cancer that is usually found in the membranes of various body organs including the lungs and the heart. It may take years after the actual exposure to asbestos, for this disease to actually show signs and symptoms that include chest pain, breathing problems and night sweats.

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Category: Home Management
Keywords: asbestos testing,construction materials,asbestos exposure

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