If you’re about to buy your first home and you fancy those classic, old buildings dating back centuries, these homes tend to retain their values over time. However, there is a dangerous side to older homes and buildings: the silent threat of asbestos. Many buildings constructed back in the day used asbestos in their building materials. It was cheap, fireproof, and durable.
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However, it is now known that prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health conditions. Respiratory diseases and cancer, including mesothelioma, are only a few of them. Before this became common knowledge, many families lived in these buildings built with asbestos-laden materials, putting them at risk without even knowing it. In this article, you will learn the health risks associated with asbestos use in older buildings and why this issue needs addressing.
How Did Asbestos End Up in Older Buildings?
You may be familiar with the rather controversial news of military veterans developing lung disease due to asbestos exposure. This is because in the mid-20th century, the use of asbestos in army barracks, homes, schools, and office buildings was common.
Floor tiles, roofs and even pipe coverings all contained asbestos. Even though many of these buildings have gone through upgrades or rebuilding with other materials, some of them still stand with those original asbestos-filled materials. The problem with this is that when those materials start to age and break down, that’s when things get dangerous.
Why Is Asbestos So Dangerous?
Materials made with asbestos are usually safe until they deteriorate. When they do, they release tiny fibers into the air which are then inhaled. Once these fibers get into your lungs, they cause inflammation and scarring that can lead to serious health conditions. The real danger is that symptoms of asbestos exposure often don’t show up for decades. This means the damage can be happening without you even realizing it. Long-term asbestos exposure can lead to asbestos-related diseases like:
- Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen
- Asbestosis causes severe lung scarring, making breathing painful and laborious.
- Lung cancer
How to Reduce Risk of Asbestos Exposure
With older buildings, the risks of asbestos exposure are high. However, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure, whether you are planning a home renovation or just trying to be cautious about asbestos exposure, especially when you have kids. Some of the things you could do include:
- Contact a licensed asbestos professional before you begin any renovation. This is necessary if your home was built before the 1980s, after which asbestos use in construction was stopped.
- Be proactive by watching out for aging materials in your home. If you notice any crumbling dry walls, damaged insulation or cracked tiles, call the experts to assess the ruins.
- Always call the experts to remove any asbestos-laden material from your home. Never touch them as this is exposure in itself. Asbestos removal requires specialized safety equipment, which you may not have.
Endnote
Awareness is one step toward addressing asbestos-related challenges. Advocate for safe housing and proper asbestos removal from older buildings. If you or a loved one have suffered exposure, talk to a healthcare professional and get screened.
