Learning About Asbestos: What Is It and How to Handle It

We can find asbestos in residential and commercial buildings built after 1980. After some time, this material is highly likely to deteriorate and release fibers that can affect air quality.

In recent years, exposure to asbestos fibers has been considered linked to several serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

While asbestos exposure can occur in any industry or occupation, individuals who work in construction, shipbuilding, insulation, and the fireproofing sectors are at a higher risk due to their regular exposure to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

This blog will be useful to anyone in frequent contact with a property built more than 20 years ago. Learn the asbestos definition to avoid future health effects.

Table of content

Learning About Asbestos: What Is It and How to Handle It

The How, Why, and What of Asbestos

What Is Asbestos Used For?

Why Is Asbestos Associated With Health Risks?

How to Protect Your Goods From Asbestos

Let the Professionals Take Care of Asbestos

The How, Why, and What of Asbestos

What Is Asbestos Used For?

Asbestos has been used in many industrial and commercial applications due to its durability, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. Some of the most common uses for asbestos include:

• Insulation 
• Flooring 
• Roofing 
• Siding 
• Brakes 
• Clutches 
• Pipes 
• Gaskets 
• Boilers 
• Fireproofing

Why Is Asbestos Associated With Health Risks?

While asbestos was considered a suitable material for various applications due to its characteristics, it is now a threat and the cause of multiple major health problems. Because of this, it has been banned or heavily restricted in many countries worldwide.

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, meaning it can cause human cancer. Its exposure has been linked to serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. 

This list can assist if you’re wondering what asbestos exposure’s main symptoms are

• Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that forms in the lungs, heart, or abdomen lining.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. 
• Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease resulting from inhaling asbestos fibers. Symptoms of asbestosis may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, and loss of appetite.

How to Protect Your Goods From Asbestos

If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos fibers at work or home, you can do a few things to protect yourself from further dangers.

• First, it is important to avoid disturbing materials containing asbestos. If you must remove or disturb ACMs, wear personal protective equipment (PPE), gloves, goggles, and an approved respirator.
• It is also important to wet the material before disturbing it so that fibers are not released into the air, where they can be inhaled.
• Once disturbed, ACM has been wetted down and collected in leak-proof bags or containers labeled “asbestos waste” and should be disposed of at an approved landfill site.

Let the Professionals Take Care of Asbestos

When removing Asbestos from a residential house or commercial property, hiring an Asbestos abatement company rather than handling it yourself is the wisest and safest approach.

At Clean Cut Abatement, we ensure that our technicians are highly trained and qualified to remove asbestos-containing materials from your property. We follow all federal, state, and local regulations to ensure your home or business is safe from asbestos exposure.

Please contact us today with questions about our services or a free quote. We are here to help you protect your property and peace of mind.