Asbestos
What is it?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is found in building construction materials used for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos can be found in many places in your home such as ceiling and floor tiles. Since 1990, many uses for asbestos have been banned but, it is important to have someone check your home for asbestos-containing material before you do any remodeling or demolishing to protect the health of everyone in the area.
How are you exposed?
People are usually exposed to
asbestos when it is released into the air by a disturbance of the material it
is in. Disturbing the asbestos-containing material can release it into
the air, where it can enter your lungs and harm your body.
Symptoms of exposure
Symptoms do not usually appear until many years after exposure because it takes a long time for asbestos to damage the lungs. The health effect depends on many different factors such as length of exposure, how often you are exposed, how you are exposed and individual characteristics such as age gender, etc.
Symptoms do not usually appear until many years after exposure because it takes a long time for asbestos to damage the lungs. The health effect depends on many different factors such as length of exposure, how often you are exposed, how you are exposed and individual characteristics such as age gender, etc.
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Cancer
Health effects
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen,
which means it can cause cancer. The two cancers that are related
to asbestos are mesothelioma and lung cancer. These cancers do not
develop immediately after exposure but after many years. Asbestos can also
cause asbestosis, which is scarring of the lung tissue from breathing in the
fibers.
What to do if your home could have asbestos in it?
If you think that your home may have asbestos in it is important to test for it. Home test kits are available at hardware stores. These are relatively inexpensive and can save you from spending a lot of money on professional testing. However, should the home test come back positive then you should hire a licensed professional to test and remove the asbestos. Trying to remove it yourself can be dangerous to you and your family. For trained licensed asbestos removers, please visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality list of trained professionals.
If you think that your home may have asbestos in it is important to test for it. Home test kits are available at hardware stores. These are relatively inexpensive and can save you from spending a lot of money on professional testing. However, should the home test come back positive then you should hire a licensed professional to test and remove the asbestos. Trying to remove it yourself can be dangerous to you and your family. For trained licensed asbestos removers, please visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality list of trained professionals.- For a contractor
- For an inspection firm (under the How to Determine if Asbestos is in Your Home tab)
