Asbestos Dangers - Taking the Danger Out of Asbestos

Written by Tim Nash

The Cyclone Files

The old phrase "If I knew then what I know now…" is on target when it comes to the problems we face today with the elimination of the threat of asbestos related illness from our midst.  It isn't like a virus or plague that spreads through society by a living thing.  The dire lung disease you get from asbestos comes from an inert material that has been used in insulation, cement, brake linings and other useful ways in society for the last several decades.

We have known for years about what causes the lung cancers that are a result of asbestos in our atmosphere.  In fact, by now, it is illegal and virtually impossible to use asbestos in any product or building project currently underway.

So the threat of asbestos is not one that is advancing on society like an invading army.  The threat of asbestos lies in the fact that for thirty years or more, asbestos as used without restraint in a huge number of buildings and other commercial products.  The substance is literally woven into every part of our lives.  Over the last twenty years, since the dangers of asbestos on the public health have become well known, a monumental undertaking has been mounted to get the asbestos out of our homes and public buildings.  Politicians stand firm that every possible way that asbestos has been used in the last century must be eradicated.  But making a political speech about ridding the world of asbestos threats is a lot different from actually getting the job done.

While all use of asbestos in construction has been stopped for many years, there is no escaping that there is a lot of asbestos still serving as insulation in many public buildings and homes.  It is helpful to know the facts about what the actual level of risk is if you have asbestos in a building you spend time in.  The risk of asbestos is only serious if the asbestos fibers can escape into the air.  The fibers that fill asbestos insulation are very tiny and if they are inhaled, that is what leads to the many asbestos related lung illnesses that are so tragic.

But when asbestos insulation is used in construction, it is always encased inside of housing.  That means that even if the walls and attic of your house is full of asbestos insulation, as long as the outer protection of the insulation is never ruptured, you are in no danger.  It is only when the insulation is broken open from something falling on it or due to a fire or during the installation or removal process that the fibers can escape and pose a threat to life.

Think twice before making arrangements with a contractor to have the asbestos removed from your home or office building.  It is sad to say this but it is the truth that the process of removing asbestos insulation is more dangerous than leaving it there.  Insulation that has been in place for a number of years may be brittle and settled in place.  It is very likely as the asbestos is removed, the housing can rupture or tear releasing a cloud of asbestos fiber into the air which is the opposite of what you were looking for.  

You can research other methods of limiting the potential of exposure such as encapsulation or encasement.  The key is not to panic but look at your situation and implement the safest and most practical solution available.