Before learning why Asbestos removal is essential, let’s dive and understand what asbestos is.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring heat-resistance mineral primarily used because of its heat-resistance properties in occupations such as Construction, Shipbuilding, and Heavy Industries. Though it is an effective insulator, direct contact may lead to serious health problems like shortness of breath, progressive lung diseases, and even lung cancer.
Types of Asbestos
Six types of asbestos are curated into two different categories. Though all asbestos is fibrous, the only property that differentiates the two is how they look.
- Amphibole Asbestos
Amphibole Asbestos are more straight, lath-shaped, and needle-like. Further, they are classified into five different types:
- Crocidolite
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Tremolite
- Actinolite
- Serpentine Asbestos
Serpentine asbestos is sheet-like long and curly fibres.
- Chrysotile
Why Asbestos removal so important?
What if you breathe, and that leads to serious health problems such as lung cancer, respiratory issues, or even death? When touched or disturbed, asbestos can trap your body for life, and the fibres can cause you hazardous health concerns. Though when untouched or left alone, they are harmless! As these fibres are so active, they instantly travel in your body, and once they are locked in lungs or other body parts, they may cause advanced health issues such as:
- Lung Cancer
For the ones who do mining, manufacturing, and milling, the chances are high that they may come in direct contact with asbestos, leading to lung cancer. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are shortness of breath and coughing.
- Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous disease that occurs due to the inhalation of asbestos tissues. In advance cases, this may lead to cardiac failure.
- Mesothelioma
This disease is most commonly found in the United States and is caused due to exposure with asbestos. It is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the thin lining of the chest, heart, or lungs.
- Other Cancers
People engaged in construction work, mining, and such activities have repeatedly been found suffering from cancers in the larynx, oral cavity, stomach, and kidney.
Asbestos has life-ending properties; hence the removal is a tricky part! Therefore, it is always suggested to choose experienced hands for the removal process to ensure that no residues are left behind.
Though the removal process is not as tricky as it may sound, still it’s essential to choose the right person to handle the situation rightly. The process starts by sealing the area thoroughly to ensure that asbestos does not travel even through the air. Then, professionals wearing safety gears will begin the removal process by sucking the asbestos out and filtering the air to see any floating particles left in the air. It’s not a time taking approach, which means it can sometimes take as little as a day or as long as a few weeks.
Thousands of families have gone for asbestos removal and have bravely fought against the illness caused by it.