As a premier Canton asbestos removal company, we here at SafeAir Contractors are a little too familiar with the dangers posed by asbestos. Today we want to take a look at why asbestos still poses a serious threat to your health.
Canton Asbestos Removal Company: Why Asbestos Is Still a Danger
It was in the 1970’s that the E.P.A. banned the use of asbestos in various applications and products. A large portion of those products were used in home construction and while their use in future products was forbidden, there are still many homes that were built before the ban that still stand today. These homes that were built with asbestos-contaminated materials pose a threat to the health of those living inside them if the contaminated materials become compromised. This can happen as a result of time, natural disasters, in-home disasters, or even home repairs and renovations. Disturbing asbestos-contaminated materials can cause the asbestos fibers to be released into the air where they are breathed in and can cause a variety of health effects.
Asbestos in Homes Isn’t the Only Problem
It’s not just the asbestos-contaminated materials in homes built before the ban that is a problem, though. Asbestos is found naturally in the earth. A recent map by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a range of locations in the continental U.S. where asbestos can be found underground. These asbestos deposits, if disturbed during construction or excavation, can become a problem. They can also become an issue when deposits are close to the surface of the earth and asbestos fibers are tracked into the home. In both of these instances, asbestos fibers can be breathed in and cause a range of respiratory symptoms.
So What Can You Do?
What can you do or what should you do about asbestos exposure?
What to Do About the Potential of Asbestos in Your Home
If you live in a home that was built in the 1970’s or before, it’s worth it to have a professional come out to your home to assess it for any potential danger of asbestos exposure. Sometimes, you may be able to identify asbestos-contaminated materials yourself by looking at the branding on particular items used to build your home, for example, floor tiles, insulation materials, or drywall. You may also be able to find remnant materials from building in the crawlspace, attic, basement or other storage areas of your home. Be careful when handling any of these items – in fact, it’s best to wear a ventilator or at the very least a mask when handling them to prevent exposure to loose fibers.
If it is determined that your home was built using asbestos-contaminated materials, there are multiple approaches to consider.
Firstly, if the asbestos-contaminated materials are not compromised, many asbestos remediation companies will suggest not disturbing them. Since non-compromised materials are not exposing anyone to asbestos fibers, it would be more dangerous to disturb the material and cause exposure. It may be best to leave the materials as is or to encapsulate them so that they cannot become a risk in the future.
If the asbestos-contaminated materials have been compromised in some way then there is no choice but to have the materials professionally removed from your home. This will prevent any further exposure to asbestos for anyone living in your home. Having a professional asbestos remediation company take care of removal also ensures that there is no unnecessary exposure during the removal of contaminated materials. Professional cleanup also ensures that asbestos-contaminated materials are disposed of properly!
What to Do About the Potential of Asbestos in the Ground Where You Live
If you live in a geographical area that is flagged by the U.S. Geological survey as being contaminated with asbestos deposits, find out as much as possible about the location of these deposits. Talk to your local department of health and even the U.S. Geological Society to find out as much as you can about the potential risk of exposure by living in these regions.
Do You Need Canton Asbestos Removal?
If you’re in need of Canton asbestos removal services, SafeAir Contractors Inc. can help! We’ve been serving Ohio and western Pennsylvania for 29 years providing asbestos removal, lead paint removal, mold remediation, and other environmental remediation services. To call in one of our professionals to help with your needs just give us a call today at 440-639-1191.
