Asbestos is a known carcinogen and contrary to popular belief, has not been banned in the United States. It is still used today, and many homes built before 1980 contain asbestos in the walls, roofing, and flooring. Many people think that asbestos is not used or that it is no longer any thing to worry about.
Asbestos was widely used in home construction during the 20th Century. It had many desirable properties, including making structures less susceptible to fire damage. In the 1970s builders started phasing out use of asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos from decades ago remains a potential hazard in older buildings.
Common items that included asbestos were:
- Steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducts insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape.
- Resilient floor tiles made of vinyl asbestos, asphalt and rubber; backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives used in the installation process.
- Cement sheets, millboard and paper used as insulation around furnaces and woodburning stoves.
- Door gaskets found on furnaces, wood stoves and coal stoves.
- Soundproofing or decorative materials sprayed on walls and ceilings.
- Patching compounds, joint compounds and textured paint used on walls and ceilings.
- Asbestos cement roofing, shingles and siding materials.
- Artificial ashes and embers for use in gas fireplaces.
Homeowners must be careful when dealing with asbestos. Asbestos is known to cause cancer and asbestosis. Elevated asbestos levels can occur in homes where asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. It is best to leave undamaged asbestos material alone if it is not likely to be disturbed. Inhaling asbestos can cause the cancer mesothelioma. Only qualified professionals should remove asbestos.
Many homeowners look to public safety departments for help with issues like this.
Do homeowners in your community know about the dangers of asbestos?
For more information on the dangers of asbestos exposure, visit http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/exposure.htm