Asbestos has been rising in popularity since the 1980s. It is regarded as a useful fiber building material that has been used for its ability to withstand heat, fire, and electricity at the same time. Not only that, its strength was recognized and used in many areas in the construction of a house or any property.
Since then, many renovations have been undertaken, and asbestos has been used as it has a respectable reputation in terms of construction. Indeed, it’s useful. Not before a lot of people were harmed by it.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral found in several locations in our home. They’ve been used for construction in some buildings and houses as they possess good quality cement-based material for insulation, structure, and many more.
However, after witnessing several problems before reconstruction, doctors have concluded how harmful this material is if destroyed. Because of its ability to resist fire, heat, and electricity, which is highly toxic, a vast number of workers or homeowners are ill. After the outbreak of asbestos-related diseases, most were dead (read more).
Your life can be in danger once asbestos has been deteriorated or damaged, especially if you have been exposed to it.
What Are The Health Risks Of Asbestos?
Once you are exposed to asbestos, most likely, these are the diseases you might get infected with: asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Asbestosis
This is a disease that occurs when you breathe in the fiber particles of asbestos. It usually comes with the inflammation and scarring of your lungs, which can be moderate or severe; it varies on how exposed you are to asbestos. Often, you are to experience shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, wheezing, etc. This has no cure now, so your damaged lungs couldn’t be reversed into their healthy state. It is a severe disease but noncancerous.
Lung Cancer
Due to the damaged asbestos impacted in your lungs, worse, it might lead to lung cancer. This type of cancer might possibly infect your other organs, which may come to worse if not treated properly. Unfortunately, lung cancer has the highest rate of death when it comes to asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma
It is a rare disease that is also caused by inhaling fibers of asbestos. Often, this is the disease that occurs to those people who happened to be exposed to it. Its effect is it forms a malignant tumor in the lining of your lungs and chest, which causes you to feel shortness of breath and chest pain. This is the most aggressive type of cancer when it comes to asbestos-related diseases.
Although there are available treatments for those who have it, it still may vary if it will work for you or not.
Such diseases may appear immediately or may not; they can occur years after exposure, it depends. But if you’ve been subjected to renovation, restoration, and the like, it’s safer to get your health tested.
Indeed, it is deadly, no matter how durable it is, no matter how long it lasts. Lives were seriously affected. So here’s the list of alternatives you can use so that you can altogether remove the asbestos present in your concrete.
1. Cellulose Fibers
This may be used as a replacement for an asbestos-cement substance in the form of cellulose cement. It is a plant-based material that can be used as insulation in an area that is fire-resistant. It also provides the durability of an area’s structure to strengthen its concrete capability. This allows in the long run to prevent the emergence of a crack. It would really be a great help to make this a replacement without the use of asbestos, not just for your safety but also for the individuals around you.
2. Polypropylene Fibers
It is a synthetic fiber that has made a relevant impact on strengthening the concrete since it is relatively weak when alone. It is often used as a secondary reinforcement in slabs, floors, dams, canals, and pavements. When it comes to its effect on our health or environment, this is safe. It also depends on the company that manufactures this, but some offer polypropylene fibers with no toxic emissions. It will be safe as long as it is used sustainably.
Just like Polypropylene Fibers, Polyvinyl Alcohols are also one of the synthetic fibers. This is used as a fiber reinforcement to strengthen the concrete since it has a relatively high tensile strength and elasticity. Compared to asbestos, this has no health risks and still in studies.
3. Flour Filler
It is consists of natural resources; thus, it does not contain any harmful chemical that, compared to asbestos, can potentially harm you. In addition to changing its curing speed to increase its service life in the concrete, it fills the void in the structure’s cracks and aid natural insulation.
This will still keep your house secured, even without the presence of asbestos, which is better. So that if you are planning a renovation, later on, this will not be a problem anymore. So please, have them removed.
Where Do I Get A Company To Remove It?
It is a dangerous job, so make sure that they are doing it safely. Who would want workers to get harmed, though? Find a company with several certifications about safety.
Also, in choosing a company to remove asbestos, it is crucial to make sure that they are professionals, and their field of expertise revolves around this. They should have a license in doing so, such as https://bdssasbestosremoval.com.au/; this company is based in Newcastle. Let us keep our guards up, particularly when it comes to something hazardous, as this fatal and needs proper execution of removal.
Where Does Asbestos Usually Locate?
More often, they can be found in such areas that need reinforcement, such as tiles, pipes, ceiling, and walls.
Although it will remain unbothered if not demolished or damaged, it is still safe to have it removed, particularly when planning to make a change in your house or property.
