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 potential health risks of asbestos
  Potential Health Risks of Asbestos
Asbestos is commonly used for fireproofing and insulation of most residential and commercial establishments. The main component of asbestos is a waterproof and strong fiber making it the best materials to contain fires. There is an ongoing controversy of the use of asbestos because of health risks it poses. It contains buoyant fibers that are so minute that can be easily inhaled or even swallowed. When asbestos penetrated the human system, it can be a cause of asbestosis, cancer and mesothelioma.


Asbestosis is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult. This can result to a scarring of the lungs. Mesothelioma is also a possibility. It is a certain type of cancer of the membranes around the chest and abdomen area. An asbestos product in itself is not a harmful product. Asbestos floor tiles or asbestos siding are fairly harmless materials since asbestos fibers are firmly enclosed and securely bonded into the product. Asbestos is dangerous once the fibers are released in the air. Once inhaled, these can cause a lot of health risk.


The gravity of health risk when expose to asbestos basically depends on the concentration of asbestos fiber a person inhaled. The length and frequency of exposure plus the mass of asbestos fiber inhaled can also dictate the seriousness of the medical risk involved.

It is the building administrations’ responsibility to make a detailed record of materials that contains asbestos. They should inform worker, authorities and civilians about the presence of such hazardous materials.

Your home may contain asbestos-based materials as well. Make a periodic check of these materials for any possible damage. Once an asbestos product has signs of wear you may exposed to a greater risk since asbestos fiber can easily travel in the air. If you want to assure the safety of your home you can hire professional who can evaluate and remove harmful asbestos. The process of eliminating asbestos is often termed as asbestos abatement.

If handling asbestos, workers should always wear protective gears and clothing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requires the use of an approved respirator. Once you discover an area of risk, seal it off and keep pets and people away from the place. Splash in some water to the material to reduce the dust it may produce. Keep it away form of electricity.

After the asbestos is removed, clean the area with a damp cloth. Throw away the asbestos waste and the cloth you used in an airtight plastic bag. Make sure that you dispose of the asbestos according to your municipality regulations. Dispose or wash your clothes thoroughly after cleaning.