If you’ve ever paid close attention to the commercials that accompany either afternoon talk shows or late night infomercials you’ve probably surmised that asbestos in the home is basically a death trap that’s grounds enough to pack up the family and move away even before Maury Povich reveals who the father is. Now granted, asbestos doesn’t exactly have the health benefits of kale, but it doesn’t mean a split second of exposure is necessarily fatal either. Here’s everything you need to know about the world of asbestos:
Why Is There Asbestos to Begin With?
The first question most people have when asking about asbestos is, “why were they building with poison to begin with?” The truth is when asbestos was first used in construction it seemed like the perfect material – had insulating properties, resisted heat, resisted electricity, and even provided soundproofing. Unfortunately the minute detail of the material being a toxic, cancer-causing agent was overlooked until about 1991 in the USA. Unfortunately Canada has an even deeper history with the fibre mostly because of our vast shipbuilding industry and presence of natural asbestos mines.
Canada and Asbestos
The United States allows trace amounts of asbestos in products since 1991 but no longer as high-density insulators. Canada regulates and monitors the use of the material but has no intentions of outright banning it and instead blocked a campaign to have the mineral listed as a toxic material presumably because of the large natural supplies of asbestos. Asbestos is never (legally) used in new home construction but the risk of presence increases with a home’s age.
Removal of Asbestos From a Home
Unfortunately all over North America there are older homes that are ‘grandfathered in’ and may still contain dangerous amounts of asbestos in their walls and attics. The number of affected homes dwindles each year but a proactive approach could bring that tally to nearly zero. When the asbestos is disrupted or ages to the point where it breaks down and crumbles it is breathed in and is hard for the body to break down thus the fibers lodge in membranes and on the lungs. The method for removing asbestos from a home is absolutely, 100% call a professional. These abatement teams have equipment and protective hazmat suits that allows for the safe dispersal of this toxic mineral. Special care is needed to not only rid the home of the toxin but also the disposal of it as well because throwing it in your neighbor’s trash is downright illegal.
If you’ve started a renovation and are unsure about whether asbestos is involved, it’s best to contact the professionals. Call Black Sheep Environmental at 778-549-5374.