House Hold Hints

	Airborne fibres
	"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 is a naturally occurring mineral. It is compiled of long, thin fibres which are mined. Asbestos is split up into two groups- serpentine and amphibole. The difference in the two groups is their transparent bodily structure. Chrysotile accounts for ninety five percent of the asbestos used, and is the only kind in the serpentine family. More commonly known as “white asbestos” which is its real color.

There are five varieties of asbestos observed in the fibrous Anthophyllite grouping. Amosite is usually used in this type of building material. By nature it is brown in color, and is frequently applied as pipe insulating material wrapper for old boiler piping.

Prior to knowledge of health effects were acknowledged, due to its availability, low cost, strength, and naturally fireproofing abilities, asbestos has been normally listed. Attic roofing materials, wallboard, Insulation was most commonly utilised, where you find it was a popcorn texture sprayed-on substance, similar to ceiling texture.

Asbestos is a term that initiates from the Greek meaning; literally “inextinguishable” referring to its intended application as a sprayed coating.

Alternative asbestos-concerned diseases

Asbestos warts - stimulated when the abrupt fibres penetrate the surface of the skin and Asbestos and Mouldn be overgrown making benign callus-like growths.
Pleural Plaques - microscopic fibrous or partially calcified enlarged area seen only on X-rays of those exposed to asbestos. These fibres don't become malignant nor ordinarily stimulate any lung disablement
Diffuse pleural thickening - like Pleural Plaques and occassionally can be linked up with asbestosis. This can cause lung disability but typically no illness is demonstrated unless exposure was extensive.

Some uses Asbestos is still in being applied today

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

You may not know for sure if something has asbestos without testing the material. Though a licensed Asbestos Examiner will indicate what details are suspicious for asbestos. This is a reasonably low-priced operation.