Leave Asbestos to the Professionals - Remodeling Yourself?

When remodeling your house yourself, it is important to take certain safeguards. Demolition and remodeling often make asbestos a common danger in American households. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that's a known carcinogen. This fiber consists of long, thin fibrous crystals and may be mixed with other substances to be able to resist heat, electricity and chemical damage. Due in order to these characteristics, asbestos was used in many buildings along with other structures throughout the 1900s. One estimation is that as much as 80 percent of all buildings constructed before 1978 had asbestos inside the design.

Knowing whether or not asbestos is in your house takes a licensed professional, because it is difficult to determine conclusively whether a building material contains asbestos merely by taking a look at it. If you believe that your house consists of asbestos, the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) recommends utilizing a licensed asbestos removal contractor who knows the correct safe procedure of ridding the toxin out of your home. Not only is removing asbestos yourself a challenging task, but also extremely dangerous. There are very strict procedures that have to be followed in order to not damage the asbestos, in support of trained professionals are qualified to handle these methods.

Asbestos is typically found in insulation, ceilings, as well as walls. There is no safe level of publicity, and it is highly dangerous when it is actually disturbed. Damage to asbestos releases the fibers to the air and once inhaled, it can become lodged within the linings of organs-such as the heart, asbestos in the lungs, as well as abdomen. This may lead to various asbestos-related diseases for example asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other forms of asbestos most cancers.

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that may be either malignant or benign. Malignant mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of this cancer and generally will lead to death. This cancer affects the actual mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, along with other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to maneuver. Due to the latency period-which can be 20 in order to 50 years-it is difficult to diagnose and deal with.

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the amount of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers can also be greater if you smoke.

If you believe that your home contains asbestos that's been disturbed, do not sweep, dust, or vacuum the actual debris. Immediately contact a professional to clean this up. Additionally, you should see your doctor as quickly as possible. Asbestos cancer treatments are more effective and symptoms tend to be more identifiable if your doctor is aware you have been exposed to asbestos.