Asbestos was used in the manufacturing for several different industrial and home building products. It used to be widely used as a form of insulation when constructing homes years ago. In more recent years asbestos use has been reduced and even eliminated in some products. It has been completely eliminated from being used as insulation in the construction of new homes.
The reason for the reduction and elimination of asbestos used is because of the direct link that inhaling asbestos fibers has with the
development of Mesothelioma cancer.
This cancer can occur years after the asbestos fibers have been inhaled and it forms tumors in the linings of the lungs and other major organs. The threat of this cancer is a good reason for those with older homes to consider testing for asbestos. Below is some information on when and how to go about testing for asbestos.
When to Test for Asbestos
If asbestos has been used as insulation in an older home it will pose a health risk unless it is disturbed. This is because the asbestos fibers have to be released into the air for their fibers to be inhaled by those in the home. There is no way or the fibers to get into the air when they are secured in a homes walls which have no holes or punctures near or around the asbestos insulation.
If you are considering doing any type of home renovation or improvement which requires you disturb any area where old insulation may exist in an older home you would be wise to consider having asbestos testing done. You should also consider having testing done in an older home is any damage such as a hole has been made in walls containing older insulation.
How to Test and Remove Asbestos
In the past few years there has been an increase in the amount of do it yourself asbestos testing kits on the market. Many of these kits claim to be safe to use at home by an untrained professional. Many of the kits also make the claim that they are as accurate as the testing done in formal labs. The reality is that handling asbestos containing material can be dangerous. Additionally, the results these offer are often nowhere near as accurate as professional lab test are.
If you think you may need to have materials in your home tested for asbestos, the best thing to do is to contact a professional asbestos testing lab. They will be able to instruct you on how to safely and correctly obtain an asbestos sample and how to go about submitting it them for testing. Additionally, if you find that you have asbestos in you home you will want to contact a professional service to have the asbestos removed. The removal of asbestos can be very dangerous and should only be done by professional who have the proper equipment and are trained in how to do this type of work. Professional asbestos removal services know how to go about preventing the spread of asbestos during removal and eliminate the asbestos threat in the future.