Does Your Home Have Cancer-causing Asbestos Ceiling Tile?
Do you know if your private home has asbestos ceiling tile? Are there hazardous asbestos in your floor tiles, acoustical or ornamental ceiling or wall plaster, insulation, or other items used to build your house? It is essential for you to answer these questions before starting any remodeling jobs. Disturbing any building supplies that contain asbestos will most likely emit asbestos dust into the air where they might be breathed. This can result in lung cancer and mesothelioma, a deadly type of lung tumor.
When asbestos fibers or dust particles are breathed into the lungs they are going to cause the body to launch immune system cells to its defense. Unfortunately, while attempting to rid the body of those cancer-causing fibers the immune cells will die. As the years pass by scar tissue will grow and surround the dead cells, eventually creating so much scar tissue the lungs will stop functioning. Recognizing and carefully removing or containing items created with asbestos must be performed before any remodeling or repair work is begun. Asbestos removal cost will not be economical, but is a small price to pay for eliminating this hazard in your home.
What is asbestos?
You will be able to find asbestos all over the world as a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is found in an estimated two-thirds of all rocks in the earth's crust. Naturally-occurring fibers are released into the open air as a consequence of erosion. An average individual will breathe in roughly 10,000 to 15,000 asbestos dust particles every day. Although this seems like a lot it isn't considered a health hazard. Nonetheless, exposure to higher levels may result in cancer.
Where is asbestos seen?
This cancer-causing mineral was normally used in lots of construction products found in schools, houses, and other buildings until they were banned in the 1970s. Mainstream items containing this unsafe mineral are asbestos ceiling tile, vinyl flooring, cement, electrical and heating ducts, sprayed-on ceiling and wall plaster, textured paints, blown-in insulation, roof tiles or shingles, sealants, fire-retardant products, and thousands of different items. The quantity of asbestos used as we speak has greatly decreased due to government warnings and restrictions of usage. Nonetheless, it still appears in many older houses, schools, and office buildings.
Where can you find asbestos ceiling tile in your house?
Asbestos fibers are strong and stretchy enough to be made into materials that are flame retardant, as well as resistant to heat and electricity. This makes them excellent as insulation. They also absorb noise effectively which is why they are terrific for soundproofing rooms. Asbestos ceiling tile was most often used in ceilings that had been dropped or suspended from the roof. This allowed a space to be created between the ceiling tiles and the roof which helped lessen noise. This space is also where heat and air ducts and vents are found which may blow toxic fibers throughout the building.
Some asbestos ceiling tiles are plainly marked as containing the hazardous mineral and can easily be spotted, whereas others are not. Visually inspecting ceiling tiles is not going to allow you to determine with certainty whether they contain asbestos unless the tiles are visibly marked. By legislation, a ceiling tile is presumed to contain asbestos if it was made prior to 1981.
If you are going to remodel or restore sections of your own home it is important to not disturb any potential asbestos-containing items. The very best strategy is to have an inspector let you know if it is safe to begin your remodeling job before the remodeling work starts. If your home contains this unsafe material it must either be contained or completely removed. Deadly consequences may be the result if proper steps aren't followed.
Source: Joshua A. Harding
