Do you know everything you should about asbestos ceiling tile danger? If the ceiling tiles in your home have the possibility of containing asbestos there are a few things that you need to know. In the event that you aren’t as informed as you should be, today we’re doing a quick rundown of some of the most important points.
What You Need to Know About Asbestos Ceiling Tile Danger
Not All Ceiling Tiles Contain Asbestos
Just because the ceiling tiles in your home are old does not mean that they contain asbestos. That said, older ceiling tiles are more likely to contain asbestos fibers than newer tiles. Additionally, there are some brands of ceiling tile that are known to contain asbestos fibers, these include Flintkote Ceiling Tiles, National Gypsum Gold Bond Ceiling Tiles and Panels, Owens-Corning Fiberglass Ceiling Tiles and United States Gypsum Ceiling Tile made from 1967 to 1976.
If you suspect that your ceiling tiles may contain asbestos it’s always best to be sure by calling in a professional remediation company to test for the presence of asbestos.
Damaged Asbestos Ceiling Tiles Require Removal
Ceiling tiles that contain asbestos don’t always have to be removed but if your tiles show any signs of damage, they must be professionally removed immediately. Damage may include flood damage, heat damage, cracking, breaking, or crumbling. This type of damage causes asbestos fibers inside the tile to become airborne which means that they can be inhaled and this is when they pose the most danger to your health. These fibers settle in your respiratory system and contribute to health problems that include everything from respiratory irritation to cancer!
Asbestos Ceiling Tile Removal Isn’t a DIY Job
Another big danger that accompanies asbestos ceiling tile is the risk of inhalation of asbestos fibers upon removal and improper disposal. That’s why it’s crucial that you rely on a professional remediation company to remove and dispose of your contaminated ceiling tiles.
Removing asbestos contaminated ceiling tiles increases the chance that already damaged tiles will shed more asbestos fibers into the environment. In turn, this results in a higher probability that you will breathe in these fibers and suffer the negative health consequences.
Removing your own asbestos contaminated tiles also means that they are more likely to be disposed of improperly. Most homeowners aren’t familiar with the proper disposal requirements of asbestos-contaminated material where professional remediation companies know how to safely get rid of it. Why does it matter how you throw out those dangerous ceiling tiles? Because as these items degrade further they leach contaminants into the environment which affects the soil, the wildlife, the water supply, and consequently, the human life in the area where the tiles were disposed of improperly.
The Impact of Unremoved Asbestos Contaminated Ceiling Tiles
Just what kind of dangers do you face if you don’t remove that asbestos contaminated ceiling tile? We mentioned respiratory distress and cancer already, but let’s take a closer look at how asbestos fibers can influence your overall health.
- Lung scarring – Referred to as asbestosis, ongoing exposure to asbestos fibers in the air can result in damage to the tissue of the lungs and lead to scarring. This scarring then makes breathing difficult.
- Pleural disease – Repeated breathing in of asbestos fibers can also cause the membrane surrounding the chest cavity and the lungs to thicken. This may also lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs which can cause breathing trouble as well as diminished lung capacity.
- Lung cancer – Breathing of asbestos fibers can also lead to the development of cancerous tumors in the lungs. This can result in the need for partial removal of lung tissue, a complete lobectomy, or even death.
- Mesothelioma – A rare form of cancer directly linked to exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane surrounding the chest cavity and the lungs. Mesothelioma can also impact the membrane surrounding other organs in the body.
- Other cancers – Asbestos exposure has also been linked to other forms of cancer including cancer of the larynx, stomach, colon, rectum and ovarian cancers.
- Respiratory distress – A common side effect of asbestos exposure is respiratory distress which may or may not signal or lead to the development of more complex and serious illness. Symptoms of respiratory distress include coughing, sore throat, hoarse voice, and shortness of breath.
Why Professional Asbestos Ceiling Tile Removal?
Why should you rely on professional asbestos ceiling tile removal? In addition to some of the points noted above, professional removal carries a number of other benefits. Chiefly among those benefits is the control of contamination in your home. When professional remediation companies perform asbestos removal for you they take every precaution to prevent further contamination in your home. This is done by isolating problem areas of the home, using commercial grade air filters, and testing the quality of the air in your home before and after cleanup to ensure that there is no further risk of breathing in asbestos fibers after removal.
Worried About Asbestos Ceiling Tile Danger?
If you are worried about the asbestos ceiling tile danger in your home it’s time to call in a professional remediation company to help eliminate the problem. If you live in Ohio or western Pennsylvania just pick up the phone and give SafeAir Contractors a call at 440-639-1191! SafeAir have been in the environmental remediation business for twenty-five years and are the top asbestos removal company in Ohio and western Pennsylvania!
