What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of soft, thin fibers which are resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion. It is an effective insulator that can make different materials stronger, like cloth, paper, cement, and plastic. Between 1930 and 1980, it was used in the manufacturing of thousands of products. There are two main categories of asbestos, which can be broken down even further:
1. Serpentine: these fibers are long, flexible, and curved, which makes them easy to weave together.
2. Amphibole: these fibers are straight and rigid, and therefore, generally brittle and needle shaped. Because of this, amphibole asbestos’s commercial uses are quite limited.
In the 90s, researchers discovered that, when inhaled or ingested, asbestos dust, consisting of fine mineral fibers that can be easily crumbled, pulverized, or powdered, can become permanently trapped in the body, causing inflammation, scarring, genetic damage, a rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma, and other cancers like lung disease.
How to Remove Asbestos
If asbestos is suspected, usually because of a home renovation or update, the first thing that should be done is finding a reputable certified lab and asbestos removal ( alliance-enviro.com/services/environmental/asbestos-removal ) team for an inspection. Even if the contractor has yet to smash tiles or drill through drywall, there is still a chance that asbestos has been released into the air. As stated above, even undisturbed asbestos can cause severe health issues. The best thing to do is reach out to professionals and track the asbestos location and condition. Do not attempt to collect samples.
The 3 advantages of hiring a professional company:
1. Safety: a professional asbestos removal team will have the proper safety equipment and procedures needed to safely do the job.
2. Experience: professional companies ( https://info.alliance-enviro.com/blog ) ensure each member of their team goes through the required training, so they are knowledgeable and skilled in handling asbestos with extreme care and caution.
3. Time and Cost: a professional asbestos removal team will be able to remove all toxic materials swiftly and without the added cost of having to buy equipment and possibly redo removal. Not only will doing the job properly save cost, but it will also ensure the health and safety of all involved.