If a house was built before 1978, would it have the cancer-causing substance?
In the era of do-it-yourself home renovations, many homeowners are knocking down ceilings and walls.They might inadvertently be tainting the air they breathe with toxic asbestos fibers when they upgrade their homes.
Our Guide to Asbestos in the Home contains information about the dangers of the substance, what to do if you suspect it is in your home, and other useful information to keep you, your family and others safe.
The mineral is made from thin fibers.When residential construction products are damaged, the fibers can become airborne and pose a danger to anyone who comes in contact with them.
People who have been exposed to those fibers may be at risk of developing a cancer called Mesothelioma, which forms tumors on the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.
Many U.S. homes and public structures were built before the 1980s.
For more than a dozen applications, it remains legal in the U.S., despite the fact that many residential uses have been phased out.
There are different ways in which you can be exposed to Asbestos in your home.The following scenarios show how homeowners can be exposed to the material.
John found brown pebble-like insulation while remodeling the attic of his 1960s home.He decided to replace the insulation with fiberglass to save money.He put the new material in the garbage bags.
John didn't know that his attic was made of vermiculite.He spread the fibers in the air.John should have left the insulation alone before disturbing it.
He loves to work on his car.He wanted to replace his brakes in his own garage.The brake drums were covered in dust after he removed the rear tires.He blew off the dust with an air compressor.
Toxic fibers can be released into the air when spraying brake components with compressed air.He should have taken his car to the shop for service or wiped the brake drums with a wet cloth.
She couldn't wait to hang the painting in her living room after winning it at the silent auction.She used a drill to install the anchors for the painting.She had to drill a few more holes to make the painting level.
She didn't know her home was built with the material.She had to drill through the wall to hang her painting.She should have known about the dangers of the substance in her walls.
The master bathroom was Herman's first project after he purchased a 1950s fixer-upper.He removed the vinyl floor tile.The new tile was installed after he removed the old tiles.
In the 1950s, it was a common ingredient in vinyl floor tiles.A scraper can be used to remove old flooring.The new tile should have been installed by Herman.
She decided to remove the popcorn texture from the ceilings in order to paint with a smooth finish.She got to work after putting on eye protection and a dust mask.She was done after lots of work, sanding and painting.
Many textured ceiling finishes have hidden dangers.The popcorn finish released fibers that easily passed through the dust mask.She should have hired a professional to remove the dangers.
Although it is the safest option, it can cost a lot.A store-bought kit can be used to perform home testing before removing the entire popcorn surface.Even a small piece for testing still needs protection, such as eye protection and an N95 respirator.
When fixing up the basement of his Victorian home, he noticed the insulation around some of the hot water pipes was starting to degrade.He cut the old insulation with a utility knife and replaced it with new fiberglass insulation.
Many older plumbing systems are wrapped in insulation.The insulation may have posed an exposure risk before he started the project, but cutting the damaged material released even more fibers into the air.A professional should have been hired to seal the insulation.
If the material appears damaged or disturbed, contact a trained and accredited professional.Access to the area should be restricted until a professional can confirm the presence of the disease.
The best way to avoid exposure is to be knowledgeable about the materials in your home.
You need to send samples to a lab for testing if you want to identify it.
It is safer for you and your family to hire a trained professional for the job than it is for homeowners to collect samples and have them tested.
You can find a licensed expert in your area by searching online.The U.S. Department of Commerce has a list of accredited laboratories.
It takes a lot of exposure to get related conditions.It is rare for someone to get sick from the products in their home.
The majority of people who develop diseases related to asbestos were exposed to it for a long time.About 20% of workers exposed to the disease develop a related condition.
Long-term exposure to the substance has been known to cause disease.No evidence of a safe level of exposure has been found according to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report.
If you own an older home, you should take precautions to avoid damaging materials.
If the repair seems minor, you should hire a professional.Improper handling can cause an exposure risk.
Talk to your primary care physician if you are concerned about your exposure to asbestos.There is no test to determine if you have been exposed to asbestos, but there are tests to detect diseases related to it.
Not all primary care doctors have the skills and experience to diagnose and detect Asbestos-related conditions.
It is a good idea to seek annual screenings from an occupational pulmonologist if you know for certain that you were exposed to asbestos.
The most popular testing method is Polarized Light Microscopy.It is more expensive to use Transmission Electron Microscopy.
If you mail samples to an accredited lab, they will charge you an additional fee of around 40 dollars for analysis.
You can create exposure risks if you collect samples.It is a good idea to hire a certified professional.The total cost of labor is between $350 and $600, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind that the job will be completed safely.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has regulations on the subject.There are written warnings for some asbestos violations.
Penalties can be as high as $25,000 for each violation, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents are some of the sources featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com.