Asbestos is the term given to six naturally occurring minerals that have been used in thousands of applications around the world. Widely utilized in a variety of industrial and building applications throughout the 20th century, asbestos was highly regarded for its heat and fire resistant qualities and became the ideal choice for manufacturers as a method of insulation. It was discovered much later that this mineral is extremely toxic and hazardous to one’s health, causing several serious health conditions.

Homes and buildings built before 1980 have the highest chance of containing asbestos, but even those built in the 1990’s due as well. This is because of the vermiculite insulation that came from a mine that at one point heavily produced the mineral.

As a homeowner, you can avoid asbestos exposure by taking some easy precautions. If asbestos is suspected, professional home inspections will be beneficial to make sure your property is free and clear of asbestos or any other harmful materials.

Tips in the Home

Homes may require structural inspections or renovations and a professional home inspector can identify the materials and provide an expert consultation for you. Technological advances have made the home inspection industry into a valuable process that rapidly study areas of concern in your property.

In order to protect your investment, professional consultants can provide an evaluation of the home. Consultants will identify material defects structures and components of the home, in adherence to or exceeding national, state, and industry regulations and standards.

Asbestos can appear in roof shingles, attic insulation, pipe coverings, joint compounds, electrical wires, furnace cement, fire brick and gaskets. If asbestos materials are present, most contractors will advise home owners to leave it alone. Sometimes the best action is no action at all. Asbestos that is left undisturbed and is not in a deteriorated state will not pose any health risks because its fibers have not been release into the air.

When an individual inhales asbestos fibers, they can become lodged and ingested into ones chest cavity. This can lead to an aggressive form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. With limited treatment options, a long latency period that lasts 20 to 50 years and difficulty diagnosing the disease, a person’s mesothelioma life span not as positive as one would hope.

It is not always an easy process to determine whether or not a particular insulation contains asbestos. Anyone who is unsure about the insulation in their home should have the materials in question inspected and tested. Again, exposure is very preventable by taking the right precautions!

Asbestos Removal & Healthy Alternatives

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is committed to protecting the public from asbestos-containing materials by educating and assisting with asbestos removal, transport and disposal. The removal of asbestos must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling toxic substances. Depending on the condition of the asbestos, many experts feel it is better to seal it off than remove it. These licensed contractors who remove asbestos, will be familiar with the regulations in protecting you and themselves from exposure to asbestos.

Green alternatives to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. A water based spray polyurethane foam, lcynene features no toxic components. These healthy options have the same beneficial qualities as asbestos, minus the health deteriorating and toxic components.