Asbestos is nothing but a group of six types of minerals that occur in natural rock and soil. The fibrous six types of minerals include chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite,and actinolite. Though the chemical composition of each of the asbestos differs from one another, they do have certain common characteristics. However, of these six types of minerals the most common ones are chrysolite asbestos and amosite asbestos.
The asbestos fibres are microscopic and cannot be viewed by naked eyes. The strength of asbestos is very high. Asbestos is known best for its tensile strength, heat resistance property, insulating property and that is why it is used for commercial and industrial construction. The asbestos minerals are tasteless and odourless. Asbestos is mixed with cement and they are woven into fabrics or mats and then used to resist heat and fire. Asbestos is also resistant to chemical erosion. Asbestos is found almost everywhere around us such as floor tiles, wall panels, electrical insulation, asbestos cement, furnaces, appliances and in what not?
What Makes Asbestos Hazardous And Dangerous?
Though asbestos has quite a number of good uses, it also has negative points. Yes, asbestos fibre is toxic for human beings. It was only in the early 1900s that medical practitioners realize that there were deaths caused due to the exposure of this fibre. The workers who worked by using asbestos were seen to develop many respiratory problems. The diseases are caused due to inhalation or indigestion of asbestos particles. The World Health Organization says that annually about 107,000 workers who work with asbestos develop various respiratory and other asbestos related diseases. Asbestos products that are stable like that of tiles, cement and other related products do not cause illnesses at the beginning. Asbestos is dangerous only if it is exposed in air as dust particles and is inhaled by us. This is the reason why it's important to contact asbestos removal service in perth, that can help you remove and dispose all of the toxic material.
The asbestos fibres have the capability of breaking down into small pieces that can enter into the body and get accumulated in the lining of the lungs. Once the asbestos particles get accumulated in the lungs, then they cannot be taken out of the body. At times, too much accumulation asbestos results in the thickening and the swelling up of the lungs, thereby causing difficulty in breathing. The asbestos related diseases are caused due to the prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibres. Most of the diseases caused due to the inhalation of asbestos for over a long period of times is fatal.
Asbestosis is a lung disease in which the fibres of asbestos makes the lung tissues into scar. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous type of chronic disease. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused due to the asbestos and is found in the thin lining of the lung, heart, chest and abdomen. It is found that most of the people who are affected by this type of cancer are people who are working in the manufacture of asbestos related materials. Diseases caused by asbestos take a long period to develop. One should take proper precautionary measures to protect themselves from diseases caused by asbestos.
Precautionary Measures That You Should Take To Protect:
You should be very careful when you handle asbestos because once asbestos is disturbed it gets split into several fine particles that can enter into our lungs when we inhale. People who are often affected by asbestos are the ones who are in direct contact with asbestos almost every day such as people who do mining, milling, people who repair goods made of asbestos, construction workers, shipyard workers, crane operators, power plant workers, carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics, fire fighters, electricians, sheet metal workers and many more. It is extremely important that we protect ourselves when we work with materials related to asbestos because we would not know the problems caused by asbestos in early stages. You should never handle asbestos materials unless you know how to handle them. You should first test what type of asbestos you are working with and then proceed accordingly. One should wear a proper mask when dealing with asbestos. The surface of asbestos should be kept panelling damp as it keeps the asbestos from contaminating the atmosphere.
Proper clothing is a must when you deal with asbestos. Damp cloth can be used to wipe the asbestos as it prevents the dust particles from entering into the atmosphere. When handling with asbestos one should not use power tools as it may cause in release of dust particles. Hand tools are more preferable as they produce lesser amounts of dust particles than that of power tools. A H type vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth is best for cleaning up the dust particles. Smoking will add further to the health problems that are caused due to the exposure of asbestos. You should also take into account the safety disposal of asbestos waste.
What Does Asbestos Removal Company Do?
Removal of asbestos is quite a hazardous process and thus cannot be carried out by everybody. It needs proper planning and implementation. Damaged asbestos are the ones that cause maximum hazards and thus removal of theses damaged asbestos have to be done with utmost care to prevent various health issues. If you want to be safe and protected, the best thing that you can do to remove the asbestos at your home or work place is to hire a good asbestos removal company. The professionals at the removal company are licensed and will definitely have experience and would dispose the asbestos safely.
If you are in idea of demolishing a building or renovating a building, then it is good if you seek help from an asbestos removal company as they would help you remove the asbestos products without disturbing them. The removal company will let you know if you will need a Health and Safety Executive license for your renovation or demolition. They would know how the laws work as the laws regarding asbestos vary from one place to another. Check for the best removal company and hire them if you want to remove any asbestos products for the safety of you, your family and the environment.
