Asbestos was commonly used in different materials between the 1930s and around the 1980s. It was used in numerous products including building insulation, boilers and pipes, car breaks, floor tiles, roofing sheets and more. Asbestos is no longer legal to use due to its devastating health issues and life-threatening risks that come along with exposure and breathing in the fibres. When handling asbestos, proper precautions are important as it’s extremely harmful to your health.
When considering asbestos removal for your home or business, you should be aware of the health risks if not completed correctly. Various health issues come along with breathing in asbestos fibres including asbestosis which is a chronic lung disease where the asbestos fibres access the lungs. Other side effects consist of pleural thickening and asbestos-related lung cancers. Inhaling asbestos fibres may not cause immediate side effects as usually they develop over time which can take up to 15-60 years. This is why carrying out asbestos removal should be done by professionals when removal is necessary.
What are the Side Effects of Disturbing Asbestos Fibres?
When asbestos is damaged or disturbed, the fibres become airborne which mean they enter the air. Airborne fibres can easily be inhaled where they become trapped in the mucus membrane of the nose and throat and into the lungs if they are digested. When asbestos fibres enter the body, this is where the serious health conditions occur. They usually take time to develop but once an asbestos related condition is diagnosed, it’s usually too late to do anything.
There are an estimate of 5000 deaths annually in the UK due to asbestos related illnesses, most of which would have developed over previous decades. Mesothelioma is one of the more common illness which is a type of cancer that effects the pleura – the lung lining and also the peritoneum which is the lower digestive track. Other lung cancers are common causes of deaths due to asbestos, these lung cancers typically look the same as lung cancers caused by smoking.
Asbestosis is another side effect to heavy exposure to asbestos. This is a serious scar condition to the lungs which develops over many years, causing shortness of breath and can even be fatal. The last common side effect of breathing in asbestos fibres is pleura thickenning which is where the pleura, the lung lining, thickness and swells causing discomfort in the chest.
Is Asbestos Removal Always Necessary?
If you require asbestos removal, it should be left to professionals to handle it. There are strict protocols and regulations in place to avoid the fibres being inhaled. Although removing asbestos yourself isn’t illegal, we highly reccomended hiring a professional as DIY simply isn’t worth the risk.
Whether removal is necessary depends on the type of asbestos you have. If it hasn’t been damaged then it can just stay where it is as it doesn’t pose a threat untill it has been disturbed. If you are unsure on whether you have asbestos then it’s best to hire professionals to carry out an asbestos survey. The team who carrys out the survey will be able to tell if you have asbestos in your property and whether it needs to be removed.
Due to the dangerous nature of handling asbestos, we strongly suggest that you use a licensed professional to carry out the removal process so they can dispose of the material safely.
Final Thoughts
There are thousands of homes and businesses across the UK that contain asbestos which can pose a threat to tennants, employees, your family or anyone else who enters these buildings. In order to keep the risk to a minimum, it’s important to hire a professional who knows how to carry out any survey and removal safely and correctly.
If you require an asbestos survey or asbestos removal in Bristol then please don’t hesitate to contact the team at A4 Asbestos for more information and guidance. You can speak with us today by calling 0117 453 2601 and we can discuss your requirements.
