Unless you haven’t been paying much attention, you probably understand how harmful asbestos can be to human beings. When dislodged, asbestos fibers can infiltrate the lungs, leading to mesothelioma and other types of breathing disorders. Whether you are a home or business owner, you should contract for asbestos removal to make sure your space is as healthy as possible. Before you do, though, here are some surprising things you should know.
Asbestos is Virtually Everywhere
For decades, builders saw asbestos as an effective way to insulate buildings and protect them from fire damage. Because of this, asbestos ended up practically everywhere. While the harmful effects of the substance became known in the mid-1980s, there wasn’t a complete ban until the early 2000s. For both homeowners and commercial property owners, then, a complete pre-renovation asbestos inspection is appropriate.
Asbestos Isn’t Always Harmful
You might have asbestos products or materials in your home and be perfectly fine. Generally, asbestos causes health risks only when you disturb it. Because you can easily breath in cancer-causing asbestos fibers, you are in danger during home renovations. Similarly, even if you don’t mess with asbestos materials, when they age or sustain damage, they can release harmful fibers. Either way, you want to contract with an asbestos removal service to guarantee you and your family stay healthy.
Health Damage Might Be Irreversible
The especially bad thing about exposure to asbestos is that removing it might not reverse negative health consequences. Cancer and other effects can show up years after your exposure ends. Thus, for you, that means any exposure is a bad idea. If you notice asbestos is present in your home or building, you should contract to have it removed as soon as possible.
Given the extreme health hazards associated with exposure, asbestos removal should be high on the priority list for homeowners and commercial property owners.