Asbestos In Your Home? Rely On Expert Removal
Asbestos wasn’t always a dirty word. At one point, this mineral was going to be part of Canada’s financial future. Nowadays, we know that asbestos is a carcinogen, hazardous to the health of you and your family. This is why asbestos removal in Ottawa is so important. Asbestos was found in many homes up until the early 1980s. But what is asbestos? What was it used for and why is it so dangerous? Most importantly, when should you call the experts to inspect and remove asbestos from your home?
What is Asbestos and Why Was it Used?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. This mineral occurs in a variety of colours including white, green, blue, and brown. Asbestos mining increased in the late 19th century as manufacturers began to use it for the its various physical properties such as sound absorption, resistance to fire and heat, as well as its tensile strength. It is the fire and heat resistance that made asbestos the perfect addition to cement in a bid to reduce fire damage in buildings and homes. Asbestos could also be found as insulation in electronics such as hot plates.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
As asbestos use increased during the 1920s and 1930s, so did research on the health issues of asbestos miners and others who worked with asbestos. Because the mineral is fibrous, it is prone to breakage and can easily be inhaled. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and the inhalation of it can lead to serious and often fatal illnesses such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos in the home was often added as blown-in insulation, which only added to the risk since the fibers were easily released into the air. Asbestos removal is the only way to make homes, buildings, and other products safe once traces of the mineral are found. Many countries have banned asbestos use and mining due to dangerous health effects. Canada discontinued the mining of asbestos in 2012.
When to Call for Asbestos Removal in Ottawa
If your home was built in the mid-20th Century, chances are asbestos was used to insulate and fireproof the house. Asbestos can be found in a number of places in the home, including tiles, siding, roof shingles, boilers, pipes, and even joint compound. A visual inspection of your home is not enough to determine if you live with asbestos. Samples of suspected asbestos or materials that may contain asbestos should be collected for professional testing.
It is not advised that you collect samples yourself, since disturbed asbestos that becomes airborne is dangerous. Be sure to call trusted asbestos removal professionals to keep you and your family safe.
