If you’ve visited Sydney, you may have come across famous attractions like the Elizabeth Bay House. This structure was built around 1839 and is well-known as an “outstanding house in the colony.” The house has been adequately maintained to prevent any area from getting damaged. However, some houses cannot gain the same treatment as the Elizabeth Bay House resulting in several house problems.
One of the many issues these poorly maintained houses get is poisonous asbestos. Most homeowners that experience this would usually contact a company offering asbestos testing and removal in Sydney. Being exposed to asbestos in your home may lead to serious problems.
A Simple Overview About Asbestos
For those who are new to what asbestos is, it’s a natural mineral and is composed of six naturally occurring silicate minerals. These six minerals are crocidolite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, amosite, actinolite, and tremolite. This type of product is well-known for its exceptional heat resistance and strength and is also the reason it’s added to houses.
But when scientists found out in the late 1970s about the harmful effects of asbestos, it was eliminated from housing materials and now labelled as a carcinogen. If you happen to live in an old home in Sydney, ensure you contact a company providing asbestos testing and removal in Sydney at once.
Common Places Where Asbestos is Found
Most homes built back between the 1940s and 1970s in Sydney have been renovated to get rid of old and weak structures. Homeowners who still live in these old houses can look for asbestos in these areas:
- Vinyl tile floors
- Basement boilers and pipes
- Plaster
- Ceiling tiles
- Blown-in attic insulation
- HVAC duct insulation
When you’re looking around for asbestos at home, make sure you wear a respirator mask to avoid accidentally inhaling toxic fumes, which can cause you to fall ill.
Health Risks of Asbestos
Whether it’s found outside your home or simply being near it, there’s a high probability of people getting sick after prolonged exposure to asbestos. Typically, people get lung complications because of asbestos in the air. No one can quickly eliminate it from their system due to the fibers becoming trapped in the abdominal cavity lining, the lung lining, or the heart.
Sydneysiders who inhale asbestos are bound to get serious health complications like Mesothelioma. This is a rare type of cancer that manifests on the protective tissues covering the abdomen and lungs. Back in 2014, it was the highest year, where people had Mesothelioma with an overall number of 770 cases. Out of the 770 cases, there are bound to be people who have inhaled asbestos in their homes, causing them to fall ill.
How to Deal with Asbestos Found in Homes
It’s crucial to remember never to touch asbestos. One might think it’s okay avoiding this step because the asbestos still doesn’t look bad or has only affected small areas. You’ll truly never know that unless you hire a company offering asbestos testing and removal. Either way, asbestos is dangerous, and no person should ever come into contact with it. Make sure to tell everyone around the home to steer clear of the area where you found the asbestos.
Now that you have an idea about asbestos, make sure to keep an eye out. Even though the Australian government has banned the toxic mineral, there’s still a chance old houses will have this lying around.
