What Are The Dangers Of Asbestos Left Over Time?
On this page we will cover the health risks of asbestos and what you can do if you think you have asbestos in your home to stay safe.
If you are considering having asbestos removed and you are wondering whether it is worth it, we will discuss some of the top health risks with asbestos.
What Are The Health Risks Of Asbestos? Should You Leave It?
Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos is not inherently dangerous until it is disturbed. This is when very small particles of asbestos escape into the air and if inhaled they can create health problems.
These health problems can also be fatal. To make matters worse some of the health problems associated with asbestos can lay dormant for 20-30 years before you end up getting ill.
In short, if you have ACM (asbestos containing material) it is best to have it removed and disposed of by a professional team.
If you are worried about asbestos in your home and feel it has been disturbed, have a read of our emergency asbestos removal guide.
What Are Some Of The Health Risks?
Some of the health risks that are associated with asbestos include:
Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and also the lining of the lower digestive tract. You will find that this disease is exclusively related to asbestos exposure, and it is nearly always fatal.
Lung Cancer:
While there are other environmental and behavioral sources that can cause lung cancer. You will find that asbestos accounts for some of the lung cancer cases.
Pleural Thickening:
This is a problem that normally happens after heavy asbestos exposure. This is where the lining of the lung thickens and swell. If this gets worse, it can cause the lung to be squeezed and that will cause shortness of breath and also discomfort in the chest.
Asbestosis:
As the name suggests this is a disease that is associated with asbestos exposure, and it is a serious scarring condition of the lung that will normally happen overexposure for many years.
This condition can cause progressive damage to the lungs and shortness of breath, in severe cases this can be fatal.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have Asbestos In My Home?
One of the best things that you can do is to hire someone professional to be able to detect and remove the asbestos. One thing that you do not want to do is to take this matter into your own hands.
This can be tempting to save money, however once those fibres of asbestos get released into the air you run the risk of poisoning yourself.
If your home was built before 2000 – it is likely that you have some form of asbestos in your home.
When you are having asbestos removed it is best to get a licensed contractor. There are some types of ACM (asbestos containing material) that you can dispose of without a license, but we recommend that you just get a professional to do it to stay safe.
You can also read this article for help if you think you need emergency asbestos removal.
How To Check An Asbestos Removal Company Before You Hire Them?
We recommend that you only hire a company that is licensed. Not only should they be licensed to handle and dispose of asbestos, but they should have the appropriate equipment and clothing. We have put together what to look for in an asbestos removal company, so you are able to do this without running into any problems. Here is an asbestos company checklist to follow before you hire anyone.
What To Do Next?
Here at Asbestos Northampton, we can help you with asbestos removal. We can also help you if you need an asbestos survey to detect the presence of asbestos.
We also cover Northampton and the surrounding areas and are completely licensed to deal with asbestos and remove it professionally.
If you are looking to have asbestos removed, contact us or give us a call on 01604 556557 and we will be glad to help.
You can also read a full article on what to do if you have asbestos in your home.