What Are The Health Risks?
The more you know, the safer you and your family will be. Although it is never easy to think about, knowing the health risks can help you to prevent them.
Exposure to asbestos is responsible for around 4000 deaths in the UK every year. Asbestosis is sadly an incurable disease. The symptoms can take anywhere from 15 to 60 years to develop, but once they have they can be very severe. Therefore it is extremely important to know what to look out for to try and prevent you and your family from being exposed to this deadly material. It is imperative you contact specialists if you are unsure about any materials that are within your home or outbuildings.
Asbestos - The Health Risks
Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the ‘mesothelium’; a thin lining in your chest and abdomen. Even low levels of asbestos can cause it and it is unfortunately incurable.
Lung cancer.
Similar to smoking, exposure to asbestos fibres can cause lung cancer. It develops in the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs, and can grow both within and spread outside the lung.
Asbestosis.
Asbestosis is a serious type of scarring of the lung caused by high levels of exposure to asbestos fibres. This causes the lungs to shrink, resulting in breathlessness.
Pleural Plaques.
Significant asbestos exposure can cause Pleural Plaques that describes areas of scar tissue on the lining of the lung (pleura), however, most commonly the lining of the rib cage (parietal pleura). Pleural plaques can be a symptomless disease although some victims experience pain or an uncomfortable grating sensation when breathing.
Pleural Thickening.
Heavy asbestos exposure can lead to pleural thickening; the scarring of the lining of the lung (pleura). This lining thickens and swells, squeezing the lung and causing breathlessness and discomfort.
Who Is At Risk?
Asbestos wasn’t fully banned as a building material until 1999, so anybody who disturbs the makeup of a building that was either built or refurbished before that date, is at risk of asbestos exposure. If you think you may be in danger of having asbestos in your home then please get in touch and we’ll talk you through our solution. Until disturbed, asbestos is rarely a health risk, but full removal by an expert is the main way to eliminate any risks to your health.
Cancer risks
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as being carcinogenic to humans. Asbestos causes mesothelioma (type of cancer that forms on the protective tissue that covers the lungs or the abdomen) and cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box) and ovary.
Vulnerable people
People with breathing problems such as asthma may be more sensitive to the effects of asbestos.
How Can We Help?
Asbestos may be present in any house or building built before the year 2000 as it was widely used in a variety of building materials. However, it can be very difficult to recognise, but Asbestos in Homes are experts at safely identifying and removing asbestos from your home. We make it our job to protect you and your family from the potential dangers. If you’re unsure at any time, get in touch and we can help put your mind at ease.
We also work with construction companies, providing them with the legal safety documentation that they need in order to carry out work on your home.
Public Health England (PHE) does not recommend the DIY removal of asbestos. If you find any asbestos which requires removal, you should contact a licensed specialist like Asbestos In Homes.