Dangers of asbestos

What are the dangers of asbestos? First, lets look at what asbestos is. Asbestos fibres were a popular choice for use in building materials up to the 1980s. It is a strong material and holds excellent heat and chemical resistant properties. Asbestos has been banned since 1985 as it is a dangerous indoor air pollutant and hazardous to human and animal health.

Your home & the dangers of asbestos
Houses built before the 1990s may contain asbestos based materials in the interior and on the exterior. If your home is owned by a landlord, ask them for information about the house. Asbestos cannot be recognised by appearance only.

Asbestos was used for a variety of materials as early on as the 1930s up until the 1980s, therefore there are already low levels of asbestos in the air which are not associated with high risk to health. Some examples of the use of asbestos were:

Exterior: Soffit boards, garage roof tiles and sheeting, shed roof tiles and sheeting, outbuilding roofs, cement for exterior cladding, wall panels, guttering and drain pipes. Asbestos content ranges from 10 to 40%. Weather conditions will affect the level of fibres released into the air.

Interior: Wall partitions, wall lining, fireproofing (spray coating), artex, textured paint, plaster, ceiling coverings, bath panels, infill panels, floor coverings, pipe and boiler insulation (lagging), fire surrounds, heating duct insulation, ropes, blankets, ironing boards and oven gloves. Asbestos content ranges from 20 to 100%.

Materials that contain asbestos may not be a risk to your health if the condition is good, if the material is not damaged in anyway or situated where damage cannot occur easily.

Your health & the dangers of asbestos
Asbestos fibres break down with age, break free from the material and become airborne. This release can happen naturally as the material ages, where the material is damaged or when disturbed during DIY or renovation. This is the moment they become hazardous to your health as your breathe in these fibres, which become trapped in your lungs. The body cannot break down asbestos. With exposure to high levels, this increases the severity of the negative health effects. If you have worked the building trade or have had regular contact with asbestos materials and products over a period of time, then you will be at a higher risk of developing illness.

Asbestos is medically known to cause a variety of diseases such as lung cancer, mesotheloima, pleural plaque and asbestosis. After exposure to asbestos, symptoms and negative health effects may not be experienced until years or even decades later.

Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)
High levels of lung cancer are associated with people who worked with asbestos. Those who were in direct contact with asbestos materials and products over long periods of time. These jobs are generally industrial related (manufacture, assembly, installation, milling and mining).

Mesothelioma (cancer)
This is a type of cancer found in lung, abdomen and chest membranes.

Asbestosis
This is a chronic inflammatory condition which develops after high levels of exposure to asbestos. Known as an occupational disease as this is found in high numbers of people working in industrial environments (manufacture, assembly, installation, milling and mining). This causes fibrosis (scarring of the lung lining with the over development, thickening and calcification of tissue) and reduces the oxygen capacity in the lungs. Asbestosis increases the risk of developing cancer. Currently there is no cure for asbestosis.

Pleural plaque
This does not cause cancer. Pleural plaque shows that you have inhaled asbestos fibres. These inhaled fibres stick to the inner membranes of the ribcage and diaphragm causing fibrosis. This condition may develop into bronchial carcinoma, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

What can you do?

* Do not attempt to disturb, break, repair, sand, wire brush, use power tools on or remove any materials or products in your home that MAY contain asbestos.

* A licensed asbestos professional will be able to advise on the removal, isolation and disposal of asbestos.

* You must contact your local authority of your intention to remove asbestos.

* If you experience any symptoms which you believe relate to exposure to asbestos, consult with your doctor.

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