September 9th, 2018 | Updated on March 5th, 2020
The 1980s was a grand time. The rise of Pac-Man, launch of MTV, the popularisation of the computer and the debut of The Simpsons make the 80s awesome and memorable.
Well, that was not all. Many people who were born and old enough to remember by then will also remember this decade as the time of the asbestos hysteria.
By the 1970s, researchers and doctors had made it clear that asbestos had a central role to play in the rising incidences of lung cancer and respiratory problems.
The hysteria took some time to build up since it took people a couple of years to figure out that they were living in castles made from asbestos.
Finally, people realised that they had friable and non-friable asbestos everywhere around them. From roofing to insulation, from fencing to plumbing; they had surrounded themselves with one of the most dangerous elements on earth willingly.
Moreover, they had paid for these pieces of sheeting, gutters, pipes, fences, shed linings and cement internal sheeting to make their home more “comfortable and convenient.”
Even 30 years ago, companies were busy hiding the ill-effects of the material from the consumers. The judges and the plaintiffs brought several incriminating facts against reputable companies to the forefront.
Research and extrapolation studies predict that the number of cases of mesothelioma in the country will reach 18,000 between 2014 and 2021.
According to reports from the Safe Work Australia and the local environmental groups, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, construction workers and shipbuilders face the worst threat of the asbestos-caused diseases.
The high rates of mesothelioma across the country correspond with its history of asbestos mining and use.
Vast parts of the country used white asbestos in ceiling tiles, plumbing and other construction work well into the 2000s. The final ban on white asbestos came in 2003.
The indiscriminate use of easily crumbling friable asbestos has made the situation worse for the homeowners. Some of them had to expend personal savings to clean out their homes after the bills and reforms.
Do You Need To Go For Deconstruction Or Should You Sit On It?
That raises a critical question – is it alright to live in an old home that may have asbestos in the piping, insulation, and roofing? Or, should you call experts like Advanced Deconstruction Asbestos Removal and Demolition?
You may want to believe that living in a home where the asbestos is away from plain sight is safe. After all, it is in the insulation or the inner vents, why should you worry about it?
Research shows that people who work around asbestos and asbestos products for extended periods are at high risk of developing cancer and chronic breathing problems. When you are staying at home with an asbestos problem, you are not facing as much threat as a worker in an asbestos factory did.
However, with time, the integrity of the sheets, pipes and inner linings decrease. It is a fibrous substance, and small disturbances can release the tiny fibres around the house. Additionally, it has an impressive staying power.
When Does The Asbestos Scare Become Too Real?
When people manage to expose themselves to high levels of asbestos fibres for a long time, they accumulate in the lungs. They are also at high risk of developing asbestosis.
It is the permanent scarring of the tissues inside the lungs. A home with asbestos is always a threat to its owners.
It is a ticking time bomb that is waiting for a storm, earthquake or a similar disaster to expose the danger to the occupants.
We know asbestos inspection and safe removal can be costly. For any family, that can mean expending a significant part of their savings or renovation funds. However, it is also a necessary measure to ensure the well-being of your family.
If your home is older than 25 years, you may want to get an asbestos inspection. Conducting the tests on your own is neither safe nor recommended.
Any agitation of long-forgotten corners and vents can release the material into the air. Besides, the material can be inside your home in the form of soundproofing material, heat insulation, roof shingles, cement, floor tile or paint.
Many of these products from a couple of decades ago are still present in city homes and suburban houses. There was a time when people in the country relied on asbestos due to its cost-effectiveness. Therefore, a vintage home has a significantly high chance of having asbestos.
The Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency began taking charge of inspecting and removing asbestos from personal properties.
It might take as less time as walking your dog or taking the kids to the movies. You should note that Safe Work Australia does not advise homeowners without proper training and equipment to collect the samples.
You should always rely on professionals who have been sampling, testing and removing asbestos from homes for quite some time. The extended service period of such a company is a standing testimony of their safe work.
Moreover, do not forget to check their customer reports and reviews while choosing them from a hoard of advertised asbestos deconstruction and removal services, online.
Why Should You Worry About Asbestos In Your House?
There have been several reports and articles that categorise the asbestos panic with UFO scares and Mothman sightings, but scientists and medical professionals continue to insist on the dangers of long-term exposure of asbestos on the human health.
Unfortunately, if the results of the asbestos sampling tests from your home come positive, you might feel unsafe inside your home that was once the haven of comfort and safety for you.
Feeling betrayed, threatened and vulnerable is common during these situations. When the experts work at your place to remove these dangers, you should find a temporary dwelling for yourself and your dear ones.
Sharing a home with the asbestos deconstruction crew while work is going on is highly unsafe and defeats the purpose of the operation.
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