Simply hearing the word asbestos captures the attention of a large number of people. We’ve all heard how harmful it is, and most of us
are also aware that it was formerly widely used. If you live in an older home, you may have concerns regarding asbestos testing and
removal.

What Is Asbestos and How Did It Become So Popular?

While many people believe asbestos is a singular material, it actually refers to any of six naturally occurring minerals. The fibrous
character of these minerals is precisely what makes them so helpful. It has been employed in construction, automotive, and industrial
applications because it strengthens and insulates numerous objects.

Because asbestos was so effective, it was widely used. Asbestos, for instance, was previously contained in a strong adhesive used in the
installation of vinyl flooring. While we have ceased using this glue due to the risks associated with it, we have not been able to
manufacture a stronger glue.

Asbestos, as we now know, is a major health hazard. However, because of asbestos’s widespread use for such a long period of time,
numerous structures around the country still contain asbestos.

Where to Look for Asbestos

The only way to determine for certain whether a structure contains asbestos is to send a sample to a laboratory for analysis. However,
certain objects and materials created prior to 1980 are more likely to contain it. These include the following:

Insulate your home.

Paint with a textured finish and wall repair.

Floor tiles made of vinyl

Adhesives for vinyl floors

Insulating blankets or tape for water heaters and steam pipes

Near wood-burning stoves, walls and flooring

Siding and roofing shingles

Brakes on automobiles

Fabrics that are resistant to heat

Why Isn’t Asbestos Used in Construction Anymore?

While asbestos is not dangerous when confined within various items, it is extremely deadly when released into the air. When examined
under a microscope, asbestos’s small particles have an extremely jagged appearance. Once airborne, these particles can be ingested or
breathed in.

Once asbestos particles enter the body, they can cause damage and inflammation. This eventually results in serious diseases such as
lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma, a type of abdominal cancer. Although symptoms may not manifest for decades, these illnesses
are extremely serious.

Asbestos was recognised as a possible health hazard as early as the 1900s. In 1918, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
published a report suggesting that asbestos workers faced an exceptionally high risk of premature death. Asbestosis was first found in
1930, and the first mesothelioma-like tumour was recorded in 1943. Yet Congress did not approve the Clean Air Act until 1971,
authorising the EPA to regulate asbestos as a harmful air pollutant.

Today, asbestos is still used in a relatively limited number of applications in the United States.Although it is no longer used in
construction, it is frequently necessary to remove it from buildings erected prior to 1971.

The Removal of Asbestos

Prior to initiating an asbestos removal project, your structure must be inspected and tested for asbestos.Unless a material is tagged or
positively identified in a laboratory, it is impossible to determine if it contains asbestos.

It is better to delegate the task of identifying asbestos to those who have the necessary expertise and equipment.These asbestos-trained
personnel will collect and test samples of materials to determine if they contain asbestos.

If asbestos is discovered and must be removed, the best course of action is to contact a professional asbestos removal crew. If you
attempt to remove things on your own, you risk releasing asbestos fragments into the air, escalating the problem. Asbestos removal
performed incorrectly produces a hazardous atmosphere for you and your family.

Hide the Area

When your asbestos removal team begins the process, they will carefully seal up any areas known to contain asbestos using thick plastic
sheets. This is vital, as asbestos is not harmful until it enters the air. When materials are removed, particles frequently become airborne.

The removal staff will turn off the HVAC system in your structure to prevent asbestos from spreading to the rest of the house. Additionally,
they will utilise a HEPA filtration system to keep the air as pure as possible.

Removing Materials With Care

Following the sealing of the contaminated area, the removal team will don protective clothing and respirators for their own protection.
Then they will begin removing any asbestos-containing materials. This might be anything from insulation to flooring to textured paint.
They will collect and dispose of the materials in sealed disposal containers. Following that, the containers will be deleted from your
construction.

Cleaning the contaminated site thoroughly

After confirming that all dangerous materials have been removed, the crew thoroughly cleans the site to eradicate any traces of asbestos.
After sealing the compartment, a vacuum system creates negative pressure within it by forcing air through a HEPA filtration system and
then expelling it to the outside.

Following completion of the cleaning process, the team conducts an air test to ensure that no evidence of asbestos remains. Once your
structure passes this last inspection, you may be certain that all dangerous contaminants have been removed.

It’s a little alarming to consider that this hazardous, cancer-causing substance could be lurking beneath your feet, in the attic above your
head, or within the walls that surround you. There is, however, no reason to panic. If you live in an older home and are concerned about
the presence of asbestos, contacting an asbestos removal specialist is a smart first step in making your home a safer place to live.