How to Determine If Your Home Has Asbestos
Because of its strength, durability, and heat resistance, asbestos was once widely used in building materials. It was later discovered, however, that asbestos is highly toxic and can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. As a result of these risks, the use of asbestos in construction has been prohibited in many countries, including the United States, though it can still be found in older homes and buildings.
It is critical to determine whether your home contains asbestos so that you can take the necessary precautions to protect your family’s health. Unfortunately, identifying asbestos can be difficult because it can be found in various building materials, including insulation, flooring, ceiling tiles, and roofing. The following are some common indicators that your home may contain asbestos:
Age of the Building: If your home was built before 1980, it is more likely to contain asbestos.
Visual examination: Asbestos-containing materials are typically grey or white in color, with a fibrous texture.
Suspect Materials: Asbestos has been found in some materials, including vermiculite insulation.
However, visual inspection is insufficient to determine whether a material contains asbestos. The only way to be certain is to send samples to a laboratory for analysis.
Asbestos screening
If you suspect your home contains asbestos, you must have it tested by a trained asbestos professional. Attempting to collect samples on your own can expose you and your family to asbestos fibres, which can be dangerous.
An asbestos expert will collect samples of suspected materials and send them to a certified laboratory for testing. To determine whether the samples contain asbestos, the laboratory will use polarized light microscopy (PLM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
What Should You Do If You Discover Asbestos?
If your home contains asbestos, you must take precautions to protect your family’s health. If the asbestos-containing material is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed, it can be left in place and regularly checked for signs of damage or deterioration. If the material is damaged, a licensed asbestos abatement professional must remove it.
Never attempt to remove asbestos-containing materials yourself because doing so can cause dangerous fibres to be released into the air, which can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. To handle asbestos removal and disposal, always hire a licensed professional.
Detecting asbestos in your home is critical for protecting the health of your family. If you suspect your home contains asbestos, you must have it tested and removed by a trained asbestos professional. Remember that attempting to remove asbestos-containing materials on your own can be hazardous. Always take the necessary precautions to ensure your and your family’s safety.
