WHAT IS ASBESTOS
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a group of six types of naturally occurring minerals. Asbestos minerals are made up of fine, durable fibers and are resistant to heat, fire and many chemicals. Once called the "miracle mineral" for such properties, asbestos was used in a slew of everyday products, from building materials to fireproof protective gear. It is now widely known that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, as well as other cancers and lung-related illnesses
What Building Materials Might Contain Asbestos
Dangers Of Being Exposed To Asbestos
Since most Asbestos products are Fire Resistant and extremely durable it can be found practically anywhere throughout the house
- Pipe insulation,
- Furnace and duct wrapping,
- Floor tiles, Linoleum,
- Mastik/Glue underneath floor tiles.
- Popcorn Ceiling
Asbestos containing materials that were used on exterior
- Roofing materials,
- Roof flashing,
- Siding Shingles.
Breathing asbestos can cause tiny asbestos fibers to get stuck in the lungs and irritate lung tissues.
Scientific studies have shown that the following non-cancer diseases can be caused by breathing asbestos:
Asbestosis is scarring in the lungs caused by breathing asbestos fibers. Oxygen and carbon dioxide do not pass in and out of scarred lungs easily, so breathing becomes harder. Asbestosis usually occurs in people who have had very high exposures over a long time, but years may pass before any symptoms appear.
- Pleural disease is a non-cancerous lung condition that causes changes in the membrane surrounding the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). The membrane may become thicker throughout (diffuse pleural thickening) or in isolated areas (pleural plaques), or fluid may build up around the lungs (known as a pleural effusion). Not everyone with pleural changes will have problems breathing, but some may have less efficient lung function.
Asbestos exposure also increases the risk of developing certain cancers:
- Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that invades and blocks the lung’s air passages. Smoking tobacco combined with asbestos exposure greatly increases the chance of developing lung cancer.
- Mesothelioma, is a rare cancer of the membrane that covers the lungs and chest cavity (pleura), the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or membranes surrounding other internal organs. Signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.
