Although asbestos hasn’t been used in decades to build homes and in the construction of most major appliances, the unfortunate fact is that millions of families in the United States live in older homes that was constructed during a time in which asbestos was heavily used. Years of research and studies performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral, was the direct cause of extremely dangerous diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. Many asbestos victims have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos companies due to the devastating effects of asbestos on their health.
If you and your family live in an
older home and/or have older appliances in the home, it’s important to
understand just how hazardous asbestos is and what you can do to protect
yourself and loved ones.
What is Asbestos and Why Was it
Used?:
According to the National Cancer
Institute (NCI), asbestos is a group of six minerals that’s found naturally in
mines and under large boulders. It has a strong resistance to heat and fire,
and therefore was once used extensively in products, equipment, and buildings.
In the late 1970s, after many upheavals, the EPA regulated asbestos after it
was found that the mineral’s fine fibers can easily be inhaled. Once ingested,
these fibers will eventually wreak havoc inside the body and they are almost
impossible to remove. When asbestos fibers stay in the body for too long,
people risk developing life-threatening diseases.
Even though asbestos was banned from
most job sites and products, anything previously built with asbestos, such as
homes and appliances, were not demolished. As a result, there are arrays of
older homes, built with asbestos, that are still occupied to this day, as well
as a multitude of appliances.
Before Your Repair or Renovate Your
Home
If you live in a home that was built
prior to the early 1980s, do not do any repairs until a state-certified,
qualified asbestos technician can inspect your home. Asbestos is not visible to
the naked eye, and most states require a thorough inspection by a qualified
technician before you can make any renovations on a home that contains
asbestos.
For older appliances, be certain
that children never play anywhere near the area. Asbestos is typically safe
unless it’s disturbed. Even doing small repairs on appliances that contain
asbestos may disturb the fibers. This also goes for old shed and/or abandoned
buildings. Make sure your kids know to never play around these structures as
there is a chance they may ingest airborne asbestos fibers.
Remember, if you have any doubts at
all as to whether your home or any appliances contain asbestos, it’s best to
not take the chances of disturbing the fibers. Instead, seek qualified help in
order to ensure that your family stays safe.
Guest post contributed by R. Walker
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