About Asbestos

For millennia, people have employed naturally occurring minerals like asbestos because of their special qualities—heat resistance, durability, and insulating power. Originally praised as a "miracle material," asbestos is now known as a dangerous substance connected to major medical problems. Whether you live in a house, run a company, or just find asbestos interesting, knowing the facts about this substance is essential for guaranteeing safety. From its background and applications to its hazards and contemporary rules, we go over the key characteristics of asbestos below.

The History and Uses of Asbestos

From ancient societies like the Greeks and Romans, who employed it for its fire-resistant qualities, thousands of years have seen the many uses for asbestos. However, its great appeal first surfaced during the Industrial Revolution when it became a mainstay in shipbuilding, manufacturing, and building. From insulation and roofing to floor tiles and automotive brakes by the middle of the 20th century, asbestos was found in everything. Many businesses choose the material because of its resilience to chemical fire and longevity. Sadly, the risks of asbestos exposure did not become generally known until decades later.

Health Risks Associated with Asbestos

The main issue with asbestos is the health risk it causes once its fibers start to fly and are breathed in. Microscopic as they are, asbestos fibers can linger in the air for protracted lengths. Once breathed in, they could get stuck in the lungs or another area of the body and cause serious medical problems. Among the most often occurring asbestos-related disorders are mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive malignancy; lung cancer; and asbestosis, a chronic lung disease causing scarring of lung tissue. Often, the symptoms of these diseases take decades to manifest, which makes early discovery difficult. Emphasizing the need to reduce exposure, the World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled asbestos as a human carcinogen.

Common Places Asbestos Is Found

Many older buildings, residences, and products—especially those constructed before the 1980s when asbestos rules started to tighten—still contain asbestos, despite its hazards. Typical items that might involve asbestos are insulation, vinyl floor tiles, roofing shingles, cement goods, popcorn ceilings, and even some adhesives. Renovations, demolitions, or repairs in homes built during this era should be handled carefully by homeowners and business owners. Should asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) be disturbed, fibers could be airborne and endanger workers as well as occupants. Identification of ACMs before any construction starts depends on professional asbestos testing.

Regulations and Modern-Day Use

To safeguard public health, many nations have enacted tight rules on the use of asbestos. Although it hasn't been outlawed in the United States, organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) heavily control asbestos here. While most asbestos-containing items have been banned by the EPA, some older products may still legally have minute levels of asbestos. Although there is a worldwide movement for a prohibition, some sectors around the world still make limited use of asbestos. Reducing exposure hazards depends critically on awareness of and application of rules. Should you believe your house or place of employment contains asbestos, you must act early. Asbestos-containing items should never be removed or disturbed on your own since this might spew dangerous fibers into the air. Our goal at SafeHorizon Asbestos Removal is to help Los Angeles property owners find, contain, and eliminate asbestos risks. The first step toward a safer environment is knowledge of the facts concerning asbestos; let us handle the rest.