Have you recently purchased an older home? If you are eager to start restorations on your older home, there are some precautions you should take.
Some older homes contain a harmful mineral substance called asbestos. World wide each year, 125 million people are at risk for asbestos exposure. So where is asbestos found in your home? Continue reading to find out.
Where Is Asbestos Found?
When restoring your home, there are common areas that asbestos may be hiding. The most prevalent area inside homes is in popcorn ceilings. Popcorn ceilings are ceilings with texture.
When scraping off the texture on the popcorn ceiling, it releases asbestos fibers. These microscopic dust fibers can go through masks.
Another common asbestos areas inside homes are insulation pipes. This is especially true for homes built during the Victorian era or late 1800s.
Plumbing systems typically had asbestos insulation wrapped around the pipes. Being near the plumbing system exposes you to asbestos, but it increases if you cut into it.
Additionally, vinyl floors are another area inside your home that is hiding asbestos. This is a common issue in homes built in the 1950s because it was a common ingredient in the flooring. Using a scraper to remove the flooring can spread the toxic fibers.
Although, there are more areas asbestos can be lurking in your home. In all the scenarios, you should reach out to professionals to have it tested and removed.
How to Detect Asbestos in Your House
You cannot see asbestos with a naked eye, although the house history may give you some hints. To detect asbestos, you must collect samples of the suspected asbestos area. There are two options you may take when collecting the samples, depending on your state.
The first option is that you collect the samples yourself. You can purchase the at-home asbestos checking kit and send it to the lab for testing. Consequently, this does put you at risk of exposure.
The second option is to hire trained professionals to check for asbestos inside your home. The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA recommends this option. The professionals know how to safely handle asbestos and minimize exposure risk.
Effects of Asbestos Exposure
There are four diseases that asbestos can inflict on a person.
On average, 90,000 people die each year globally from asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos is a common cause of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the tissue lining of your organs. Also asbestos can cause lung cancer.
Another potential disease someone may develop is Pleural disease. Pleural disease impacts the lining of the lungs, which can cause breathing problems.
Lastly, Asbestosis is another lung-related disease asbestos can cause. It’s a chronic lung condition that will cause the individual to seek supportive care.
Asbestos-related diseases decrease your quality of life. It also decreases your life expectancy severely, if you’re exposed for long periods of time.
Learn More About Areas With Asbestos
We hope we brought awareness of the answer to the question ‘where is asbestos found’ inside your home. It’s important that you take proper precautions due to the dangers of asbestos.
When you’re ready to seek out professional help for your home restoration, contact us. Here at Hometown Restoration, we care about your health and safety. You can get a quote today from us.