Know The Facts Before Removing Asbestos

Just hearing the word asbestos can invoke panic to many home renovators

. Not only because of the expense and hassle it causes in a renovation project, but because of the potentially dangerous impact it can have on our health.

Asbestos is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases: Mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, Asbestosis and Plural thickening. These diseases will not affect you straightaway; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. You must protect yourself now.

Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost always fatal and is exclusively connected to asbestos exposure.

Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.

After heavy exposure to asbestos, over many years, the lungs become critically scarred. This is called Asbestosis. This condition causes shortness of breath and can be fatal.

Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.

Its very hard to identify asbestos, but if you suspect you are living with it - don't panic. It is safe to leave asbestos in place if it is undamaged and undisturbed. As long as that the repair or sealing will be substantial and not likely to be disturbed then damaged asbestos can be repaired and then protected from further damage. Asbestos should never be sanded, or drilled or sawn. If mending is not possible or the material is likely to be disturbed then the asbestos should be removed.

Professional advice should be sought when removing asbestos.

You can get an asbestos survey of your house. You should only use a capable asbestos surveyor to do this.

Asbestos can be coated with paint, wallpaper or adhesive so that it can not release dust. Prime the asbestos with alkali resistant primer and finish off with emulsion or gloss paint don't sand or scrape the asbestos material before painting. Sheet asbestos can be covered with wallpaper or hardboard. Asbestos could be painted with a bitumastic paint (eg Aquaseal or Synthaprufe) or sealed with PVA adhesive (eg Unibond).

If you hire a tradesperson for matters to do with asbestos management, check that they have the proper training and equipment to do this.

Getting rid of asbestos yourself is not something you want to take lightly. If you do not know what you are doing, it is very possible that you will end with one of the diseases which are associated with asbestos. For the most part, you should hire a professiona that deals in asbestos management, to remove all of the asbestos from your property or products. If you insist on removing it yourself you will need to wear the correct equipment and you will have to remove in a controlled environment with the right materials. By not following the correct way to remove asbestos you run the risk of injuring yourself and others.

by: davi3myune

POST COMMENT

How To Repair Your Garage Doors Through Common Sense? Garage Door Repairs Figure Things Out Before Spending The Money Exhibit That Jazzy Look By Wearing Marmot Mens Jacket Pest Control Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad Pest Control The Right Soft Bed For Your Dog Use Third Party Tools When Ost Integrity Checker Tool Fails!! Garage Door Opener Repair Tips For Doing It On Your Own Easily How To Handle Lawn Mower Repair How To Block Negative Thoughts In 3 Simple Steps How To Get Someone To Trust You In 4 Easy Steps Guidelines On Electric Lawn Mower Repair What To Look For In Lawn Mower Repair Shops Underwater Adventure In Boracay