House Hold Hints

	Vermiculite Asbestos
	"Asbestos is only dangerous if it becomes airborne. As long as asbestos containing materials are not damaged, the asbestos fibers do not become airborne and do not pose a health threat to the building occupants. During an asbestos building survey, inspectors assess the condition of asbestos containing materials. These conditions do deteriorate over time. If you find that an asbestos containing item has been damaged, please contact our office for a hazard assessment. Source"

Asbestos-linked diseases

Asbestos warts - induced when the piercing fibres lodge in the skin and Household Mould and Asbestost overgrown making benign blister-like developments.
Pleural Plaques - discrete fibrous or part calcified elaborated area which we see on X-rays of humans exposed to asbestos. These fibres don't become malignant nor normally induce any lung handicap
Diffuse pleural thickening - like Pleural Plaques and on occassion can be affiliated with asbestosis. Possibly causing lung damage but typically no symptoms is registered unless exposure was voluminous.

What is Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral that occurrs naturally. It is made up of of thin, long fibers that are mined. Asbestos is divided into two groups- serpentine and amphibole. The difference in the two groups is their crystal clear body structure. Chrysotile answers for ninety-five percent of the asbestos used, and is the unique kind in the serpentine grouping. Often referanced as “white asbestos” which is its innate color.

There are five varieties of asbestos noticed in the amphibole category. Amosite is ordinarily used in this type of construction material. In its natural state it is brown in color, and is most normally utilized as pipework insulating material wrap for older boiler piping.

Prior to knowledge of health effects were acknowledged, due to its availability, low cost, strength, and naturally fireproofing abilities, asbestos has been commonly applied. Loft wallboard, Insulation, roofing materials was frequently used, where you find it was a popcorn style sprayed substance, similar to ceiling texture.

The word asbestos comes from the Greek meaning: literally “inextinguishable” referring to its intended usage as a thermal insulation that is sprayed.

Asbestos is still in use today

• Pipe and duct insulation
• Wall and ceiling panels
• Patching and spackling compound
• Furnaces and furnace doors
• toasters and other heat-related household items
• Brake pads and lining
• Building insulation
• Roofing materials
Floor tiles

You may never know for sure if your building has asbestos without researching the substance. Though a licenced Asbestos Examiner will indicate what particulars are suspicious for asbestos. This is a reasonably inexpensive procedure.