While we now know that asbestos can be hazardous, especially to the young and elderly, we didn’t always. There was a time, though, when asbestos was considered essential in construction for its fire resistance.
Earliest Use of Asbestos
Asbestos has been around for centuries. Inhabitants of East Finland were the first known people to use it–right around 2500 BC. They used it to strengthen earthenware pots.
The Ancient Greeks also used asbestos fairly thoroughly. They knew of its fire resistance and durability, so they used it to make blankets and tablecloths, as well as the wicks in their ceremonial candles.
Asbestos in Construction
From the 19th century to about the 1980s, asbestos was incredibly popular. Asbestos was cheap, incredibly resistant to fire, and functioned fairly well as a sound-deadening tool. As such, builders everywhere loved it, and most homes built before 1980 have asbestos in them.
Because of asbestos’s popularity, you won’t just find it in your walls. You may find it in:
- Fiber cement siding
- Glue attaching floor tiles to concrete or wood
- Window caulking and glazing
- Some paint
- Vinyl floor tiles
- HVAC duct insulation
- Plaster
- Roofing materials
- Siding materials
- Blown-in attic insulation
- Corrugated 8x4 foot panels
- Some linoleum
Health Impacts
You’ve probably already heard that asbestos can be hazardous to your health. Undisturbed, good-condition asbestos may not be a risk to you–assuming you leave it alone. If you disturb asbestos, though, the health impacts can be significant.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis causes long-term inflammation and scarring to your lungs. Those with asbestosis may have trouble breathing, alongside coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest.
Asbestosis, unfortunately, is incurable.
Mesothelioma
Prolonged exposure to disturbed asbestos can also cause mesothelioma, a type of cancer. Mesothelioma affects the lining of your lungs as well as your chest wall. It can sometimes affect the lining of your abdomen and, in rare cases, the pericardial sac around your heart.
While not all cases of mesothelioma are caused by asbestos, the majority of them are. Mesothelioma has no cure, but there are treatments that are sometimes successful.
What Do I Do if I Suspect I Have Asbestos in My Home?
Having asbestos in your home isn’t–on its own–a cause for panic. If the asbestos is in good condition and undisturbed, you shouldn’t have any health risks.
However, if you aren’t 100% sure that your asbestos is in good condition and undisturbed, you should seek out asbestos testing services immediately.
ERI Consulting can help you determine if there is asbestos in your home and if it’s in poor condition. While asbestos isn’t always harmful, there is a high risk of health hazards if your home has disturbed asbestos.
Contact ERI Consulting for Asbestos Testing
Even if you’re certain that the asbestos in your home isn’t an issue, getting an asbestos test done is a good precautionary measure.
ERI Consulting is here to help give you and your family peace of mind through our asbestos testing services.
Contact us today to schedule service.
