Did you know that spring cleaning can disturb asbestos-containing materials? Asbestos fibers are mixed into other materials to make them more durable, heat resistant, and cost-effective. Asbestos was used in many different types of construction materials for homes and businesses throughout the United States. Even newer homes are being found to have asbestos. This is a rather new find, as most modern homes were believed to be safe from asbestos fibers. While there are regulations and laws to help protect us from asbestos exposure, materials are still finding their way into our homes and businesses. This is making it even more difficult to do basic tasks like spring cleaning without the fear of asbestos exposure.
During spring cleaning, you throw materials away, touchup older materials, and move items from one area to the next. All of these actions can cause asbestos fibers to break loose and float through the air, finding their way into your mouth and nose. Once asbestos fibers are ingested, they stay in your body. They begin to cause problems with your lungs and respiratory tract and can eventually lead to mesothelioma and even death. Asbestos exposure is very dangerous, and the only way to protect yourself is by knowing if your property has asbestos fibers present.
Asbestos testing is the only precise way to know if your home or business has asbestos-containing materials. Without a certified test, you would never know that you have the harmful substance inside your home. An asbestos inspection is completed on your home, where samples are taken and sent to a lab. The lab will test for asbestos. If your test comes back negative, you can continue with your spring cleaning; if it comes back positive, you will need to have the asbestos removed. Once removed, your home will undergo a final asbestos inspection to ensure all asbestos fibers have been removed.
