As we're all well aware at this point, there are a lot of little particles floating around that can be bad for our health. Whether it's a virus or a product of the materials in our homes, it's good to know what's out there and how it can affect us.
Asbestos is something that was used in a lot of materials that we need to build homes, buildings, and more. People stopped using it as heavily in materials, but the old asbestos-filled products still exist in a lot of our homes and workplaces today. We're going to talk about why asbestos is bad for you in this article, giving you some insight into why you should get an asbestos analysis for your home in the Lower Mainland. WHEN ASBESTOS CAN BECOME DANGEROUS?
The reason that asbestos was so heavily used in the past is that it's a very strong material. It's flexible, heat-resistant, insulative, and strengthening. If it wasn't so bad for your health, it would be one of the most effective, multi-purpose materials around.
A piece of that strength is the reason that asbestos is so dangerous. When asbestos is damaged or disturbed, it releases fibers into the air that we breathe. If undamaged, asbestos won't pose any health risks.
When you are exposed to those airborne fibers, though, they find their way right into the lining of your lungs and stay there. This is why an asbestos analysis is required if you have an older home in Vancouver or Surrey.
RESPIRATORY ISSUES
The pleura is a very thin lining that protects our lungs and other parts of the body.
Asbestos fibers are so tiny and strong that when they reach the pleura, our bodies have a very hard time working them out. What ends up happening is that they stick there permanently, causing the pleura to thicken and cause numerous respiratory problems.
CAUSING CANCER
Respiratory difficulties aside, the real danger of inhaling asbestos is contracting mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a tumor located in the abdomen, lungs, or heart that is almost only associated with people who have inhaled asbestos during their lifetimes. It's treatable, but most cases are fatal and difficult to manage.
TIMEFRAMES AND EXPOSURE
Most people who get mesothelioma don't experience any symptoms for decades. It takes a long time for cancer to develop in response to the fibers in the lining of a person's lungs.
The average individual with mesothelioma is around 70 years old and was once exposed to working conditions with heavy amounts of asbestos. Either that or their home was built with a lot of asbestos-based materials.
Working conditions are particularly dangerous because construction and building jobs often break down materials and send fibers into the air. Cutting down your exposure to asbestos can help prevent all of its related illnesses.
The only way to know for sure if you're exposed is to get an asbestos analysis for your building or home.
ENSURE YOUR SAFETY
At BC Hazmat Inspections, we are here to help. Getting an asbestos test in Surrey or Vancouver is a smart move if you want to make sure that you're not breathing in dangerous particles within your own home or to ensure you are not posing a danger for your employees.
Contact us to get an analysis from our experts and have peace of mind knowing that you're living and working in a safe, asbestos-free environment.
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