Why Asbestos Testing is Important for Your Health
October 15th, 2014
Until the 1970’s, asbestos was commonly used in insulation and roofing for homes, schools and commercial buildings. Asbestos is a group of small mineral fibers that are resistant to heat, fire and doesn’t conduct electricity. What builders and manufacturers didn’t know was that asbestos is extremely harmful to humans, and when these building materials are disturbed, asbestos dust becomes airborne. Because of this, asbestos testing has become an extremely important part in ensuring public safety around older buildings.
Unlike lead paint dust that falls to the floor, the asbestos dust is light enough to float through the air. If a person breathes asbestos dust, the particles become stuck in the their lungs and can accumulate over a period of time. This, of course, causes health problems.
What are the Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure?
Those who have been exposed to large amounts of asbestos may suffer from the following:
Asbestosis – This is an inflammatory condition in the lungs that causes shortness of breath. Over time the asbestos particles can scar the lungs, impairing lung capacity even further.
Mesothelioma – This is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest. When healthy, the lining protects the lungs, but when affected by mesothelioma the lining is no longer able to serve its purpose, leaving the organ exposed.
Lung Cancer – As the name suggests, lung cancer is a cancerous tumor on a person’s lungs. Often times this disease is linked to smoking, but inhalation of asbestos fibers can increase a person’s risk.
Someone who suffers from an asbestos related illness may feel short of breath, have a persistent cough, cough up blood, have pain in their chest, have difficulty swallowing or suffer from chronic fatigue or anemia.
Typically people who are affected are those who worked around asbestos for an extended period of time. Many construction workers, especially those involved in demolition crews, may be at risk of exposure. Most recently, it has been found that those involved in the World Trade Center clean up effort resulting from the terrorist attacks in 2001 were exposed to large amounts of asbestos. The threat is not limited to those in construction, even an office worker is at risk if asbestos is present.
Factors That Determine Asbestos’ Damage to a Person’s Health
Several factors are involved in how asbestos exposure affects an individual. These include:
– The type of asbestos a person was exposed to. (Different shapes of the fibers affect the amount of damage done.)
– How much asbestos a person was exposed to.
– How long the person was in an asbestos filled environment.
– Any respiratory conditions a person had prior to asbestos exposure.
Time of exposure is perhaps the most important factor. Many people are exposed and may not even know it, especially if they live or work in a building built between 1930 and 1970.
Any health affects caused by asbestos usually develop over many years. Lung cancer can develop over the course of 15 years following asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma can take even longer. Many cases take 30 years or more to show symptoms. Health conditions and unhealthy habits prior to asbestos exposure have an effect. For example, if someone who is exposed to asbestos is a smoker, they are more likely to suffer from long-term health effects.
Trust Asbestos Testing From Get The Lead Out
For over 20 years, Get the Lead Out has performed asbestos inspections and tests all over the country for a variety of markets – homes, schools, government buildings and job sites. Let our experienced inspectors and technicians find any sources of asbestos and offer solutions for abatement.
To find out more about Get The Lead Out or to schedule expert asbestos testing please call (704) 376-3594.