Asbestos can make many home renovators panic. Not only because of the expense and fuss it causes in a renovation project, but because of the potentially dangerous impact it can have on our health.
Asbestos is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases: Mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, Asbestosis and Plural thickening. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop and by the time they are diagnosed it is often to late to do anything. You must protect yourself now.
Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost always fatal and is entirely connected to asbestos exposure.
Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
After heavy exposure to asbestos, over many years, the lungs become seriously scarred. This is called Asbestosis. This condition causes shortness of breath and can be fatal.
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
It's very difficult to distinguish asbestos, but if you suspect you are living with it - don't panic. It is not dangerous to leave asbestos in place if it is undamaged and undisturbed. As long as that the repair or sealing will be substantial and not likely to be disturbed then damaged asbestos can be fixed and then protected from further damage. Never sand, drill or saw asbestos materials. If fixing is not possible or the material is likely to be disturbed then the asbestos should be taken out.
Professional help should be sought when removing asbestos.
It is possible to get an asbestos survey of your house. Only use a capable asbestos surveyor.
Asbestos can be coated with paint, wallpaper or adhesive so that it can't release dust. Prime the asbestos with alkali resistant primer and finish off with emulsion or gloss paint - don't sand or scrape the asbestos material before painting. Cover sheet asbestos with wallpaper (fixed with a strong adhesive) or with hardboard. Asbestos could be painted with a bitumastic paint (eg Aquaseal or Synthaprufe) or sealed with PVA adhesive (eg Unibond).
Check that any tradesperson that you hire for matters concerning asbestos management have the proper training and equipment.
It is not easy to get rid of asbestos yourself. You could end up with an asbestos related disease if you dont know what you are doing. For the most part, you should hire a professional that deals in asbestos management, to remove all of the asbestos from your property or products. If you insist on removing it yourself you will need to wear the correct equipment and you will have to remove in a controlled environment with the right materials. By not following the correct way to remove asbestos you run the risk of injuring yourself and others.
Asbestos is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases: Mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, Asbestosis and Plural thickening. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop and by the time they are diagnosed it is often to late to do anything. You must protect yourself now.
Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost always fatal and is entirely connected to asbestos exposure.
Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
After heavy exposure to asbestos, over many years, the lungs become seriously scarred. This is called Asbestosis. This condition causes shortness of breath and can be fatal.
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
It's very difficult to distinguish asbestos, but if you suspect you are living with it - don't panic. It is not dangerous to leave asbestos in place if it is undamaged and undisturbed. As long as that the repair or sealing will be substantial and not likely to be disturbed then damaged asbestos can be fixed and then protected from further damage. Never sand, drill or saw asbestos materials. If fixing is not possible or the material is likely to be disturbed then the asbestos should be taken out.
Professional help should be sought when removing asbestos.
It is possible to get an asbestos survey of your house. Only use a capable asbestos surveyor.
Asbestos can be coated with paint, wallpaper or adhesive so that it can't release dust. Prime the asbestos with alkali resistant primer and finish off with emulsion or gloss paint - don't sand or scrape the asbestos material before painting. Cover sheet asbestos with wallpaper (fixed with a strong adhesive) or with hardboard. Asbestos could be painted with a bitumastic paint (eg Aquaseal or Synthaprufe) or sealed with PVA adhesive (eg Unibond).
Check that any tradesperson that you hire for matters concerning asbestos management have the proper training and equipment.
It is not easy to get rid of asbestos yourself. You could end up with an asbestos related disease if you dont know what you are doing. For the most part, you should hire a professional that deals in asbestos management, to remove all of the asbestos from your property or products. If you insist on removing it yourself you will need to wear the correct equipment and you will have to remove in a controlled environment with the right materials. By not following the correct way to remove asbestos you run the risk of injuring yourself and others.
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For further facts about asbestos management training courses and removing asbestos or to request a call back, please contact Clearway Asbestos.
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