Most, if not all adults today, know enough about asbestos to realize there is a level of danger, yet there are still buildings that contain this harmful substance. Asbestos is a series of six silicate minerals that occur naturally, and although it was known about and mined some 4,000 years ago, it was at the beginning of the 19th century when asbestos became popular due to its amazing properties.
Worldwide Use
Asbestos can be mixed with cement, woven into cloth, and even pressed into sheets, and because it has great insulation properties, it was mainly used as a form of fire protection. The long, thin fibrous crystals can easily be released by abrasion and other methods, and if these dangerous fibers are floating in the atmosphere, a person can easily inhale them without realizing. Its popularity grew due to the low cost, and in the 1960s, the first legal claims were beginning to surface, as people attributed their diseases to the inhalation of tiny asbestos particles. By the end of the 1980s, almost every country in the world banned the substance from being used, although that only prevented new buildings or products, while there were, and still are, many buildings that do contain asbestos.
Have your Home Checked
If you live in Australia, and your home was built before 1980, there is a chance that asbestos was used in the construction process, and if you are uncertain of this, call in an environmental consultant from a leading company who can carry out the required tests. In the event there are traces of asbestos in your home, the company can arrange to safely remove it.
Schools
These are prime places to find asbestos, as many were built long before we banned its use, so there might be a small chance that your children are being exposed to this on a daily basis. If you talked to the Principal about this, he or she would understand your concern, and would more than likely have certification to show that the building is asbestos free.
Other Places
Hospitals, Libraries, or any government building could still have traces of asbestos, although specialist companies are gradually dealing with these structures. Asbestos sampling and removal is big business in Australia, and that is likely to continue until all traces of the harmful substance have been removed. The people who remove asbestos are well trained, and always wear the right protective clothing when working in any area where asbestos is known to be present.
Other Services
Companies that are concerned with also provide services such as noise monitoring, as many inner city projects must stay within government regulations regarding noise levels. The testing is both easy and affordable and gives the developer solid information about projected noise levels.
Asbestos can be very dangerous, and because the slivers are minute, a person would never know they are in an asbestos contaminated area, which makes all the more risky, and if you are in any doubt, call in the experts without delay.
