The Dangers of Asbestos During Home Remodels
When
you want to renovate your home, your focus is often on the design and scope of
the project, the
cost of the upgrades, and the eventual impact of the renovation on your
home’s value. Your mind rarely goes to the presence of potentially toxic materials
inside the structures of the building. But this
is a real risk during home improvement projects, especially when dealing with
homes that were built in the 1980s. Homes from this era often have materials
that contain asbestos and those hazardous building materials may still be in the
home to the present day.
What
is asbestos and why is it dangerous?
Asbestos
used to be considered a revolutionary material for building construction. It is
a natural silicate mineral that is resistant to chemicals and able to withstand
high temperatures. It was widely used in the building industry all the way from
the 1920s to well after the 1980s. In
1960, it was conclusively linked to a range of long-term illnesses and many
forms of cancer. After it was identified as the number one cause of
occupational cancer, asbestos has been heavily regulated and its use is no
longer as widespread as it used to be.
But, it
still remains a problem today, particularly in homes built 40 or more years
ago. Asbestos becomes dangerous when materials with asbestos in them are worn
down or damaged. Sanding, sawing, grinding, and any physical impact on such
materials will make them unsafe.
These
are the kinds of actions that typically happen during a home renovation. This
is why asbestos exposure is a high possibility when renovating your home and you
may be exposed to asbestos even if your home is less than 40 years old.
Health
impact of asbestos exposure
The
following diseases are known to be linked to asbestos exposure:
Asbestosis
When inhaled, asbestos can cause scarring
in lung tissues. This prevents the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide, making
breathing harder. Asbestosis is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It is
more common with people who work in the building industry.
Pleural Disease
Asbestos can damage the surrounding
membranes of the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). The membrane can become
thicker, hardened, or experience fluid buildup. This is not a cancerous
condition but it can cause difficulty with breathing and lung malfunction.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos can cause lung cancer or increase
the chances of lung cancer in individuals. The risk of lung cancer is greater
for smokers who are also exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma
This cancer affects the membrane around the
lungs and chest cavity. It can also affect the abdominal lining and membranes
surrounding other organs of the body.
Building
materials that may contain asbestos
Common building
materials that may contain asbestos include roof shingles, sheet vinyl,
pipe wrap, plaster mud and texture, vermiculite insulation, glazing on older
windows, door gaskets, duct seam tape, electrical wiring, fireproof products, boiler
wrap, popcorn ceilings, joint compounds, and cement asbestos board siding.
The
threat of asbestos exposure becomes even higher when the asbestos is friable,
easily crushed, or crumbled by hand. Examples of products with friable asbestos
include older types of spray-on insulation and spray-on ceiling textures. Newer
products may not have this issue.
How
to tell if your home has asbestos
There
is no straightforward way to detect the presence of asbestos in your home. Generally,
you can assume the presence of the material if the building is more than 40
years old. But you cannot completely rule out its presence in more recent
homes.
Asbestos
is used in a wide range of building products. This makes its presence hard to
identify. Knowing products with a history of containing asbestos can help. But
to be completely sure that your home is asbestos-free, you need a certified building
inspector to check the home.
If your
home is older and there are visible signs of aging on the property, this
inspection is absolutely vital. Aging and damage will increase the chances of
exposure to asbestos in a building. You should also get a professional
asbestos abatement contractor if you are about to renovate that building.
There
are three important things to note about the presence of asbestos in the home
and how to deal with this problem:
· In most
provinces, testing for asbestos is not a requirement when selling a home. As
long as a seller does not knowingly sell you a home with asbestos, they are not
liable. This means your new home can have asbestos in it.
· Home
inspections do not include inspecting the home for asbestos. Just because a
home got a good inspection report, it doesn’t mean there is no asbestos in it.
But you may order an asbestos inspection as an add-on if your home inspector is also
certified for asbestos inspections.
· If you
suspect the presence of asbestos in your home, do not attempt to remove it by
sweeping, vacuuming, or other similar actions. This will only make the asbestos
airborne and more dangerous.