Asbestos Exposure – The Facts

By now you’ve probably heard the term asbestos and that it abestos exposure can be deadly. But what is it? Asbestos is the name given to a number of natural fibrous minerals that show high tensile strength, resistance to heat and chemicals. Because of this, asbestos has been used for years in the building and contruction industries in such things as:-

- Corrugated and flat sheeting and piping
- Roof coatings and felt
- Tiles and fences
- Car components like clutch facings, disc brake pads, brake linings and transmission components
- Paper, mill-board and roll-board

Exposure to airborne asbestos particles can result in serious health issues when a person breathes in or swallows the asbestos fibres. Continued exposure has been proven to have a significant impact on the lungs, with large quantities sticking to lung walls each time it is breathed in.

Fibres embedded in lung walls over time can cause serious lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. It has been found that smoking increases the chances of these diseases occurring following asbestos exposure. Read the rest of this entry »



Reduce & Remove Asbestos Dust Safely

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres that were extensively used in building products due to their insulating and fire-proof properties and overall strength. Over time, it has become known that inhaling asbestos fibres can cause diseases such as pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

As such, it’s extremely important that you take the proper precautions when trying to remove asbestos from your home.

When researching asbestos removal you’ll always come across two terms – friable and non-friable. Non-friable means that the asbestos fibres are in the product held solidly and are less likely to become airborne unless the product is damaged. Friable asbestos products are loosely packed and can be crushed easily in the hand leading to airborne dust.

This dust can be deadly and in itself can lead to illnesses already discussed. Therefore, if you’re going to be working with asbestos it’s important that you use common sense. Here’s some tips to reduce and remove asbestos dust while you’re working:- Read the rest of this entry »