It is estimated that asbestos kills around 12,000-150,00 people each year in the US alone. While this number isn’t a lot compared to other diseases and illnesses, it’s still far too high, especially when you consider that many asbestos-related deaths are preventable.
By testing your home and work for asbestos, you can stop the problem in its tracks and prevent it from affecting your health even further.
At one point almost every building and home have asbestos in it and it’s really only necessary to test your home if you suspect the presence of asbestos.
How can you tell if there’s asbestos in your home or workplace?
Read on to learn the top 4 signs your home or workplace needs asbestos testing.
1. You Have Disintegrated Duct Sealants or Pipes
If your home has recently been renovated, it’s likely that you don’t have to worry about asbestos creeping into the floors, ceilings, or walls. But, you still need to keep an eye on the “skeleton” areas of your home- aka those that you don’t see every day.
Check the piping around your home, and if you notice any disintegration, it may be a sign of asbestos.
A lot of times, companies perform an asbestos repair, as opposed an asbestos removal. While repairing is often a lot safer than removal, the area sealed may experience decay over time. When this happens, your pipes and duct sealants will start to disintegrate.
Therefore, if you notice decay, it’s very important to get in contact with an asbestos specialist, such as the ones at Asbestos Air Monitoring.
2. Your Home or Building Was Built Before 1986
Many people don’t know this, but asbestos was commonly used in construction between the 1920s and the 1980s.
This practise was ceased in the late 80s. Therefore, if your home or building was built before1986, there’s a good chance that it has some amount of asbestos in it.
Roofing tiles, paint, insulation, flooring, roofing, and drywall will all need to be inspected and undergo asbestos testing.
3. You Have a “Popcorn” Ceiling
Do you have that sprayed on ceiling texture material that resembles popcorn in your building or home? Does this ceiling have some damage?
If so, there’s a good chance that material could contain some amount of asbestos. If the ceiling was constructed in the past couple of decades, you are more than likely in the clear. However, it is still a good idea to get things tested just to be sure.
4. You Experience Symptoms of Asbestos Poisoning or Mesothelioma
Not only do you need to inspect your building or home for asbestos signs, but you also need to inspect yourself.
When someone has been exposed to asbestos, they have the potential to develop Mesothelioma, a certain type of lung cancer. This cancer occurs when asbestos fibers embed themselves into your lungs, or when they embed themselves in your digestive system or stomach.
While it can take years to detect Mesothelioma, there are some signs that may indicate you have an asbestos-related disease. These signs can appear shortly after exposure to asbestos, or years later. Signs of asbestos poisoning include:
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen fingertips
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Persistent dry coughing
If you are experiencing two or more of these symptoms, then it’s a good idea to call your doctor so you can start running some tests.
As you can see, figuring out whether you have asbestos in your home or building isn’t always easy. That’s why if you’re at all suspicious, you should have some testing done. Please comment below if you have questions.
