4 Reasons Why You Should Remove Asbestos In Your House

If you own a house that's at least 20 to 30 years old, you're a good candidate for a thorough check of harmful chemicals. One of these is asbestos. Many years back, asbestos was commonly used in the construction industry because it’s a great insulator against noise. It’s also durable and resistant to heat, chemical corrosion, and electricity. However, after extensive research, asbestos exposure has been found to cause a range of health problems.

One of the biggest risks of asbestos to human health is its link to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer. Because of this, and many other reasons, you should remove any presence of asbestos in your home. Here are some of these reasons:

A Brief Background On Asbestos

Before moving forward, you should first know what asbestos is. Asbestos refers to a group of fibers naturally occurring in rocks. For many years, this was used in homes and buildings. It’s usually white in color, and the fibers can be crumbly once they’ve deteriorated. It’s in this disturbed state that asbestos becomes more dangerous, as the fibers are now more susceptible to inhalation.

The Reasons to Remove Asbestos In Your Home

Now that you have a quick grasp of what asbestos is, here are the compelling reasons for you to remove this from your home:

1. It's Widely Present Around Homes

You may think that your home is safe from asbestos, but this notion is wrong. Your exposure to asbestos may even be greater than what you initially thought it to be, as asbestos may be hiding in your home.

Because you and your family spend so much of your time in your home, you want this space to be your haven. This means from harmful chemicals such as asbestos.

Asbestos can generally be found in the following areas of your home:

• Vinyl floor tiles and coverings

• Exterior fiber cement cladding

• Textured paint

• Artificial brick cladding

• Architectural cement pipe columns

2. It Can Increase Your Risk Of Fatal Diseases

Many fatal diseases can arise because of regular asbestos exposure. Note that asbestos fibers can be unwittingly inhaled in significant levels and can also stick to your clothing, skin and hair. This means that when asbestos is in your home, it can stick all over your body, putting yourself at an even higher risk.

Here are some of the fatal diseases caused by asbestos exposure:

• Mesothelioma cancer from asbestos - This is a type of cancer that affects the pleura, which is the lining of the chest wall and diaphragm and the covering of the lung as well. Unfortunately for this kind of disease, can develop even decades after asbestos exposure. This means that when it's diagnosed, your exposure may have been too great that the disease stage may also be well advanced.

• Pleural plaques - This refers to thickened patches of scar tissue on the lung's lining.

• Lung cancer - This kind of cancer, along with mesothelioma, can also develop decades after initial exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer is also often diagnosed in its advanced or terminal stage.

• Asbestosis - This refers to a serious, but non-chronic and non-cancerous, lung disease specifically due to long-term exposure or inhaling of asbestos. Asbestos fibers, when inhaled, can aggravate lung tissues. This leads to scarring of the lungs. In the advanced stages, asbestosis can lead to cardiac failure.

• Other cancers - Apart from lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer, you can also develop other types of cancer as a risk due to asbestos exposure. Some of these are cancers of the esophagus, kidney, larynx, colon, oral cavity, and stomach.

Furthermore, your likelihood of developing the diseases listed above is dependent on the following factors:

• Age - Even children can develop mesothelioma cancer. The younger you are when you first start inhaling asbestos, the higher the chance of having mesothelioma cancer. 

• Amount and duration of exposure - The longer you’re exposed and the more fibers that enter your body, the more likely you are to develop problems due to asbestos exposure. Remember, there’s no such thing as a “safe level” of asbestos exposure.

• Whether or not you smoke - Smokers exposed to asbestos at home also have a higher risk of acquiring lung cancer. 

3. Removal May Be Required By Law

Depending on where you're from, there are some states and localities where asbestos removal is required by law. You should ask a local contractor about your local regulations. 

This requirement usually applies when you're applying for a permit to renovate or demolish your commercial or residential property. An inspection or asbestos check will be necessary. When asbestos is found, you'll be asked to clean up all the contaminated areas before you can proceed with your project.

4. It Has No Safe Level Of Exposure

It's wrong for one to claim that because a home has low asbestos levels, you’re safe to stay there. With this toxic carcinogen, there's no safe level of exposure. So, once it's identified, even if it's only in minimal levels, you'll need to have it removed.

Reasons To Have Asbestos Removed Professionally

Now that you're aware of the dangerous consequences of having asbestos in your home, you may also be wondering whether you can do the removal process yourself or have a professional do it for you. The latter is the better option. Once you detect the presence of this toxic material in your home, find a professional asbestos removal company.

Here are a couple of essential reasons to leave this job to the experts:

• The removal process is very risky, especially when proper safety measures aren't undertaken. Professional removal companies know the best way to completely remove the substance from your home. That way, you don't run the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers unknowingly. 

• Only the experts know how to perform proper diagnosis and removal correctly. They'll follow your local government’s guidelines on the proper disposal and handling of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated material. 

Conclusion

When you're planning any major upgrade or renovation, asbestos removal should be at the top of your list. Beyond the aesthetics, remember, you'll also need to prioritize the safety of your home. Asbestos is a very dangerous substance. If you suspect your home may contain traces of this chemical, contact a professional removal company right away.