Asbestos In The Home
Asbestos in the Home
The presence of asbestos in the home is not normally a serious problem. However, the danger lies in the fact that the materials containing asbestos may become damaged after a certain period of time. When damaged, asbestos may be released into the air, causing a health hazard.
What are the common household materials that contain asbestos?
Asbestos in the home is usually restricted to a few common areas. So if you are checking for asbestos in the home, make sure to check the following areas:
* The roof and siding of the home. Asbestos in the home often come in the form of shingles used for roofing and siding.
* Insulation. This is especially true if your house was built some time between 1930 and 1970.
* Walls and ceiling joints. Some textured paint and patching compounds may be sources of asbestos in the home as they contain asbestos additives. If your house was built and painted before 1977, there is a good chance the paints used contained asbestos.
* Gas-fired fireplaces. Gas-fired fireplaces use artificial ashes and embers in order to create the illusion of a true wood fireplace. These ashes and embers may be sources of asbestos in the home.
* Stove-top pads. If you have one in the home, be sure to check it for asbestos or asbestos compounds.
* Woodburning stoves. Some homes have the walls and floors around the stoves insulated with asbestos paper, cement sheets and millboard.
* Floor tiles. Asbestos in the home can be likely found if your floor tiles are made from vinyl. Check the backing of the sheet flooring for asbestos containing adhesives.
* Plumbing. You may have asbestos in the home if your house is one of those older ones that have hot water and steam pipes. Asbestos may be used to coat the pipes.
* Furnaces and gaskets. Asbestos insulation may also be used for oil and coal furnaces. Also, check for asbestos in door gaskets.
How to Identify Asbestos in the Home
It is impossible to identify materials containing asbestos in the home just by looking at it. The only chance you can recognize asbestos containing materials for certain through an ocular inspection is if the material itself has a label that says it contains asbestos. So in order to find out if there is asbestos in the home, you need the help of a qualified professional. The first thing he will do is to take samples of the material, analyze it, and determine whether it is positive for asbestos fibers.
Note that even if there is asbestos in the home, it does not necessarily mean that it is a health risk. Again, only when the asbestos containing material is damaged or in bad condition that you should consider repairing or removing it from the home.
More Articles
More Articles
... the abnormalities that may develop at the first onset of the disease may not be detectable in a lung X-ray. It is only during the more advanced stages of asbestosis or mesothelioma that abnormalities are distinctive. For instance, in advanced asbestosis, a chest X-ray will reveal an abnormal, predominant ...
... scratch portion of the building material through saw and drill. Simply cover and seal when the fibrous mineral requires patch- up. Covering is also identified as enclosure where you only have to place anything above or around. Sealing is also recognized as encapsulation where the construction item is ...
... asbestos legislation imposes new duties. These include the duty to protect those who came into contact with asbestos without their knowledge or by an accident. Included under this are maintenance workers who are often unaware that they are working on materials that contain asbestos. This new asbestos ...
... diseases. This health check was suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for those who used or worked on the athletic fields, running track, dirt paths and baseball diamonds of that school, before 2004 -2005 school year. On 2005, the school grounds were cemented and landscaped. In addition, ...
Asbestos Management Schools And Workplaces
... research and reached to the conclusion that the hazardous effects of asbestos are due to human negligence. Evidence shows that if the asbestos is left untouched, it does not pose any risk to health. It is not necessary to remove asbestos materials to prevent health problems. There are many schools and ...