Asbestos is a type of mineral fiber that used to be utilized in many products for the purpose of making them more resistant to the extremes of heat and cold. For many years asbestos was used widely by the building industry, before it was known that this material releases particles which produce mesothelioma - an aggressive form of lung cancer - when they are inhaled. Asbestos is no longer used, for this reason.
There is also active controversy that some sectors of the building industry continued to exposure their workers to asbestos, with the attendant risks of asbestosis and mesothelioma long after the building industry was in possession of compelling evidence of the dangers of asbestos use.
One issue many people may not realise is that asbestos use was not limited to commercial buildings - it was commonly used in the building of homes, and yours could be one of them. The fibers of asbestos are in some roofs and tiles built up with asbestos cement. They also can be found in paintings and substances to cover holes in walls or ceilings. Some old hot water pipes might be covered with asbestos too. Ask a professional to take a look to your house in order to ascertain if you and your family are in risk.
Certainly, if you are considering demolishing any walls, or renovating or remodelling your home, it is imperative that you have an asbestos expert determine whether or not there is asbestos present in your home. Indeed, it is illegal to demolish or otherwise interfere with any structure containing with asbestos. It is necessary to have the asbestos professionally removed by people who know exactly what precautions to take to remove asbestos containing structures, and how to safely dispose of the asbestos so as not to cause any inadvertent exposure to asbestos, which could well cause the development of mesothelioma some years later.
