What is Asbestos and Where Has it Commonly Been Used

Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral, and it is mined in a number of countries across the world.  Historically, it has been a popular mineral to use in construction due to the fact that it is durable, flexible, resistant to chemical attack, an excellent insulator and able to withstand high temperatures.  Even the name itself comes from the Greek language where it means 'un-extinguishable'.

In the UK, asbestos has been used since the industrial revolution when it was first used as insulation.  Since then, it has been used in various applications such as fire retardant coatings, bricks, pipe lagging and lining of boilers.  

What is Asbestos and Where Has it Commonly Been Used

There are three main forms of asbestos that occur naturally.  The first is known as 'chrysotile', or white asbestos, and is by far the most commonly used type.   It was usually mixed with cement to form corrugated roof sheets, or used to make flat sheets for walls and floors.  Extremely flexible, it can be spun and woven like cloth which made it ideal as pipe insulation or even fireproof clothing.  Considered to be dangerous to health, it was banned from the UK in 1999.  It is estimated that this type accounts for up to 95% of all asbestos found in buildings. 

The second type of asbestos is called 'amosite', or brown asbestos.  In buildings it is most commonly found covering steel as fire protection or in walls as sound proofing.  This type of asbestos is also considered harmful, and the import of amosite was banned in 1986.

The third form of asbestos is called 'crocidolite', or blue asbestos.  It is a harder and less flexible form than the other types, but it is extremely strong and has a high acid resistance.  It is considered to be the most dangerous of all asbestos types, and its use was strictly controlled from 1969 until it was finally banned in 1986.

It is essential that when asbestos it is found it is removed and disposed of correctly by a professional, licensed asbestos removal company, as the removal process can expose you to health risks if the correct procedures are not followed.

As asbestos has been used for over a century, it has been included in thousands of products.  The list below gives some of the common uses for asbestos containing products so that you know what to be careful of when carrying out alterations to a property.  While asbestos is generally safe if left alone, any damage can lead to the release of fibres which are dangerous to health.

Roof tiles and panels - asbestos is commonly found mixed with concrete to make either flat or corrugated panels.  They are often seen as the roofs or walls of outbuildings and garages.

Roofing felt - asbestos can be found combined with bitumen in the felt often found covering flat roofs, where it gives flexibility and insulation.  Some bitumen products containing asbestos were also used to make guttering.

Lagging - adding asbestos to cloth allowed it to be used to lag pipework and prevent heat loss or frost damage.  Similar material was also used for fire blankets and some protective clothing.

Sound proofing - sprayed asbestos can often be found in under floors and in ceiling voids where it acts to prevent noise pollution.

Electrical insulation - Asbestos paper has been used to wrap electrical cabling and as the back of fuse boxes because of its non-flammable properties.

Spray coating - spraying asbestos on structural components of buildings provides protections against damage from heat and cold.

Loose packing - wall and ceiling cavities in older buildings may contain asbestos as it was frequently used as insulation.

Door linings - a flat sheet of asbestos under door panels provides resistance in the event of fire.

While this list gives you an idea of what to look for, it is not complete and if you are in any doubt a qualified asbestos surveyor should be contacted for advice.  They will be able to assess the situation and advise you accordingly.  If in any doubt ask a professional asbestos removal company to undertake an asbestos survey so that you are certain of what you dealing with before you start removing anything that could significantly harm your health.

Asbestos effect

Mesothelioma is a complicated syndrome which is caused due to exposure to unsafe asbestos. This cancer spreads in the membrane surrounding the area of lungs, heart and stomach. It takes several years to detect the cause of this disease. Asbestos can be inhaled anywhere, in the place of work or in schools with asbestos walls. Even at home if the clothes are washed with asbestos there are chances of getting this awful disease.

Asbestos occur naturally in the environment in the form of group of minerals. Earlier its use was tremendous because of its strength, effectiveness and its resistance to heat. In 80% cases affected due to this cancer, the main offender is asbestos. When asbestos is burnt, hazardous fibres are released in the air. The linings of lungs build up cancerous cells due to the penetration of these fibres.

There are three types of this malady. The one which causes pain in the chest, chronic cough, croakiness is Pleural-mesothelioma, which many a times is diagnosed as pneumonia. The lungs are affected in this type of cancer. Pericardial-mesothelioma interfere the function of heart membrane followed by symptoms like rise and fall in heart beat, chest pain, and low energy level. The third type which hurtles the stomach cavity is Peritonial-mesthelioma. The symptoms can be pain and uninhibited growth of cancer cells.

Imaging equipment like x-rays and scans are helpful for the diagnosis of this ailment. Though a meticulous series of physical tests is carried out, to get more correctness, Biopsy is suggested. This includes a microscopic examination of a body tissue. Amongst the most recent tests, Mesomark is considered to be the faultless detection test. When the spread of the disease in the body is known, further treatment can be done fast.

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the common treatments for this disease. More often two or more cures can be combined to get better results. Surgery is not done in many of the patients due to late diagnosis. With the inventions in medical science, efforts are being made to make the patients live longer with treatments like angiogenesis, immunotherapy and gene therapy.

The treatment for Mesothlioma is high-priced. The patients or family members of victims, often find it unmanageable to go for doctors. Consultation from an Attorney can always help them to get reparation from corporations. Thus the fees for hospital, surgical treatments, chemotherapy and expenses for burial can be arranged with this.

Asbestos Testing for Contaminated Floor Tiles

If you have an older home that includes certain types of flooring such as asphalt tiles, vinyl and even sheet vinyl, it may have been installed using asbestos. It may surprise many to learn that asbestos has been used for 100's of years in many cultures. It was used due to its strength, durability, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Unfortunately, during the industrial revolution, asbestos became very popular and, at the time, was thought to be a good material for use building new homes and businesses. Of course, by the 1980's, the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was no longer able to be challenged by the makers. It was clear that asbestos was not the safe, durable product that had been advertised.

Asbestos insulation

Of course, the use of asbestos fell sharply, but many homes and businesses were left with asbestos walls, ceilings and flooring.

What if My Tile Floor Tests Positive for Asbestos? 

Tile flooring that was installed between the 1950's and through the early 1980's may contain asbestos. If the tiles are in good shape, tightly intact and there is no reason to remove them. You cannot become contaminated by asbestos simply by walking on a tiled flooring in which asbestos was used. Generally, you cannot tell if the tile was installed using asbestos just by visually looking at it.

Asbestos becomes dangerous when you disturb it, by pulling up the tile and placing new tile or flooring. The dust and fumes can get into your lungs, and you may become sick several years later. Many people may have replaced their floor tiles without even realizing that they contained asbestos, which means that they took no precautions when replacing the flooring.

Many people who are exposed to asbestos when it is disturbed, by actions such as changing tiles, may be at risk for developing mesothelioma, a serious asbestos related cancer. Now that the health concerns regarding asbestos have been exposed, it is vital to avoid removing tile in your home if it was installed before 1980. Instead, you will want to have it tested by a professional to see if asbestos is present. If asbestos is present, then you have to decide with the help of the professional the best course of action. If the tile is loose and chipped, replacing it may be the best option.

You do not want to take on the removal process on your own. You will need to hire a professional to come in and change out the tile so that they do so without causing risk to you and your family.

Final Thoughts 

Many people who have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos have become ill years later with several different kinds of cancers, breathing issues and heart problems.

There are a lot of ways to get hurt while working, playing or doing everyday tasks around your home. A simple fall may lead to a concussion; a careless swipe of a cutting knife may damage a finger. Someone painting a room may suffer from fumes in a poorly ventilated room; you may even trip over an electric cord or hose left lying on the ground.

When performing home improvement projects it is easy to focus on your objective. In the back of your mind you're thinking about whether you have sufficient materials, whether something will fit or if it will dry too soon. What will the cleanup require? Will you have any help? For gosh sakes, how long will it take and could it get any hotter?

All those things serve to distract you from an important element of the project: your personal safety. When working with attic insulation, for instance, you have several factors to consider.

The age of the attic insulation - how old is the material? Older material is more likely to possibly contain asbestos. Asbestos must be handled by qualified professionals and cannot be discarded through normal trash disposal methods. Older attic insulation may also contain enough dust, mites or insects to irritate breathing. Wear protective gear over your nose and mouth to prevent inhalation. Also wear long sleeves and pants to keep the material off your skin. Be sure to wash those garments separately from other clothing.

What type of attic insulation is it? As stated above, asbestos is incredibly dangerous - it can cause lung cancer and other diseases. Fiberglass will easily cut your skin and is also dangerous to breathe, so wear gloves when you handle it and wear dust masks to prevent inhalation.

Asbestos Products at Home

I intend to discuss the different types of asbestos products and where they may be found in residential properties. It should be considered that in the UK, housing stock still has a large amount of asbestos products present throughout. From textured coatings to cement boiler flues to floor tiles. The HSE recently suggested over 2.4 million homes contained some asbestos products.

On the legal and duty of care issues, it should be pointed out that until proved otherwise all suspect materials should be considered to be asbestos. When any works to a building or part thereof, are to be carried out, a refurbishment or demolition survey is a legal requirement. This survey should identify all asbestos containing materials present and recommend any further action to be taken.

Asbestos Insulation Board. 

asbestos insulation

This material was mainly used in fire protection, such as in heater cupboards, but is also commonly found in ceiling tiles, partition walls and fireproof panels for fire doors. It can be difficult to spot this type of asbestos as it can look very much like "ordinary" ceiling tiles and partitioning or plasterboard. This is also a highly dangerous material as when broken or disturbed it can easily release fibres. The HSE will allow only very minor works to be carried out to this material. But it is recommended that only license contractors work with this material.

Loose fill asbestos insulation. 

This material was used to insulate in between cavity walls, floorboards and lofts. This material is usually pure asbestos and maybe grey or whitish in colour. It is a fluffy type of material. A large volume of fibres can be released when disturbed and work on this material is by licensed contractors only.

Asbestos cement products. 

This material was used in anything from roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes. Boiler flues and wall cladding. The asbestos has been mixed with cement which does help to prevent dispersal of fibres. A common use was as garage roofs. You do not need a licensed asbestos contractor to work with asbestos cement products as long as you do not exceed control limits. A risk assessment will highlight if the works are likely to exceed the control limits.

Textured coatings. 

This is usually a decorative paint or plaster finish and can be commonly know as "Artex". More often than not these materials will also have been painted over. The danger can be limited as the material is contained but easy release is achieved if sanded down. This must be avoided. Textured coatings have in the past also been applied over the top of asbestos insulation board. Therefore care must still be taken when dealing with this material. You do not need to be a licensed asbestos contractor to work with these materials. You will however need to erect a two stage airlock, and use negative pressure unit as well as the correct PPE.

Floor tiles, toilet cisterns and textiles. 

Vinyl floor tiles can have an asbestos content and can be found under carpet. Composite asbestos products have included toilet cisterns and seats, window sills and bath panels. For the tiles and composite products it may be a question of how long they have been in situ as to whether they contain asbestos. Asbestos textiles can be found behind older fuse boxes.

Asbestos spray coatings. 

This material is found on the underside of ceilings and floors, as fire protection to steelwork and concrete. Considered as one of the most dangerous of the asbestos materials due to the high volume of fibres that can be released when disturbed. Only licensed asbestos contractors may work with this product.

This list is not comprehensive but does cover some of the main products that you may find. It should always be remembered that asbestos was still being used in building products up to the year 2000. If the material is suspect, you must treat it as asbestos. You cannot determine if a product has asbestos content by a visual inspection. The sample must be viewed in a laboratory

Amosite is the second most popular type of asbestos

There are different types of asbestos. However; some types are commonly used than others .Among the most commonly used are the Chrysotile which is a member of the serpentine group. It's used in adhesives, fire doors. Plaster and texture coatings among many more. Vinyl tiles are also made with asbestos as one of the components hence an s a result of this common use; asbestos surveys have been enforced by government agencies.

Amosite is the second most popular type of asbestos. Most buildings in the Unites States of America have this type of asbestos ad a constituent. They are used in low density boards for insulation, insulations that cover chemicals and many more. There are many types of water and construction pipes that have been made with asbestos hence it is so widely used.

 The health hazards that asbestos cause makes asbestos surveys a necessity. The Chrysotile is the main cause of tumors that affect many animals. Human beings that work in areas where this type of asbestos is available may also suffer from Mesothelimus.Pleural plagues and the Asbestos warts are other diseases that people who are exposed to asbestos suffer from.

Asbestos have been banned in the United States and although this has been done, regular asbestos surveys are still done to make sure that the damage that it can cause is mitigated. Many countries the world over have also done this since the amount of suffering that asbestos can cause is irreversible. The chemicals in it are very toxic hence every government should ensure that its population is protected from the adverse effects of this abrasive chemical. Other than educating the people about the potential dangers, continuous asbestos survey can help a lot.

It's advisable that you avoid using materials that has asbestos in them. There are many building materials that are still available in the   shops which have some asbestos in them. It's advisable that you take the necessary conditions to conduct careful asbestos survey on the materials that were used to manufacture the materials. It's advisable that you ask the processionals who understands about building materials or consult the manufacturers guide.

Asbestos survey is a critical requirement that   can help save lives of both human beings and animals. There are many people who are not aware of the presence of asbestos amidst themselves hence endangering their lives a lot. It's important that you hire the services of a qualified asbestos expert to help look at your needs and take the necessary steps to ensure that you are not exposed to the hazards of asbestos.

Common Asbestos Products in the Home

I intend to discuss the different types of asbestos products and where they may be found in residential properties. It should be considered that in the UK, housing stock still has a large amount of asbestos products present throughout. From textured coatings to cement boiler flues to floor tiles. The HSE recently suggested over 2.4 million homes contained some asbestos products. 

On the legal and duty of care issues, it should be pointed out that until proved otherwise all suspect materials should be considered to be asbestos. When any works to a building or part thereof, are to be carried out, a refurbishment or demolition survey is a legal requirement. This survey should identify all asbestos containing materials present and recommend any further action to be taken. 

Asbestos Insulation Board.

This material was mainly used in fire protection, such as in heater cupboards, but is also commonly found in ceiling tiles, partition walls and fireproof panels for fire doors. It can be difficult to spot this type of asbestos as it can look very much like "ordinary" ceiling tiles and partitioning or plasterboard. This is also a highly dangerous material as when broken or disturbed it can easily release fibres. The HSE will allow only very minor works to be carried out to this material. But it is recommended that only license contractors work with this material.

Loose fill asbestos insulation.

This material was used to insulate in between cavity walls, floorboards and lofts. This material is usually pure asbestos and maybe grey or whitish in colour. It is a fluffy type of material. A large volume of fibres can be released when disturbed and work on this material is by licensed contractors only. 

Asbestos cement products.

This material was used in anything from roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes. Boiler flues and wall cladding. The asbestos has been mixed with cement which does help to prevent dispersal of fibres. A common use was as garage roofs. You do not need a licensed asbestos contractor to work with asbestos cement products as long as you do not exceed control limits. A risk assessment will highlight if the works are likely to exceed the control limits. 

Textured coatings.

This is usually a decorative paint or plaster finish and can be commonly know as "Artex". More often than not these materials will also have been painted over. The danger can be limited as the material is contained but easy release is achieved if sanded down. This must be avoided. Textured coatings have in the past also been applied over the top of asbestos insulation board. Therefore care must still be taken when dealing with this material. You do not need to be a licensed asbestos contractor to work with these materials. You will however need to erect a two stage airlock, and use negative pressure unit as well as the correct PPE.

Floor tiles, toilet cisterns and textiles.

Vinyl floor tiles can have an asbestos content and can be found under carpet. Composite asbestos products have included toilet cisterns and seats, window sills and bath panels. For the tiles and composite products it may be a question of how long they have been in situ as to whether they contain asbestos. Asbestos textiles can be found behind older fuse boxes.

Asbestos spray coatings.

This material is found on the underside of ceilings and floors, as fire protection to steelwork and concrete. Considered as one of the most dangerous of the asbestos materials due to the high volume of fibres that can be released when disturbed. Only licensed asbestos contractors may work with this product.

This list is not comprehensive but does cover some of the main products that you may find. It should always be remembered that asbestos was still being used in building products up to the year 2000. If the material is suspect, you must treat it as asbestos. You cannot determine if a product has asbestos content by a visual inspection. The sample must be viewed in a laboratory