Exposure of asbestos has become classified as carcinogenic. Research indicates that exposure to asbestos may cause lung cancer and also add to a condition called asbestosis. An inflammatory condition affecting the lungs accompanied with shortness of breath, coughing and long term lung damage. Any kind of scraping or construction activity causes asbestos particles free in the air where it is easily inhaled. Covering up existing layers of asbestos with a new layer of wall board even worsens the exposure as the activity further shakes the asbestos fivers loose and introduce them to air.

It’s imperative to do an asbestos inspection if you suspect the presence of the substance at home as even very  low levels of asbestos fibers  can prove to be harmful with prolong exposure. You will need professional help mainly; as it is dangerous to handle asbestos and asbestos fibers are very small and can only be seen with a special kind of microscope.

It is a must to turn to accredited testing laboratories to ascertain that asbestos will not be the source of health hazard in the house. The professionals will take a sample material and test it with highly sensitive equipments.  If the test yields a positive result, seek help from specially trained experts who can remove the offending material in the home or building.

Asbestos occurs as a natural mineral, know scientifically as a silicate. It is mined for its various useful purposes. How does asbestos look like? One can best describe asbestos by the word “spiky.” You are most likely to come across material made from asbestos if your house was built before 1970. The color of asbestos material varies. Each form of asbestos has a different hue or color depending on the chemical composition. It may appear as a green, brown, or grey needle-like material. Asbestos dust, which comes from materials made using asbestos, is not easily seen by the human eye.

In the early 1900s it was discovered that miners in areas where asbestos was mined were dying of lung related illnesses. This led to the discovery of the toxic and harmful nature of the material. Inhaling asbestos fibres is believed to be a cause of lung cancer, mesotheliomia (a kind of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and stomach) and asbestosis. These are all very dangerous diseases. In the United States for example, over 100,000 people have died from exposure to asbestos fibre during mining. Some countries have banned mining and use of asbestos and its related products. However, in countries such as Russia, asbestos mining still goes on.

Caution should be taken when handling asbestos material, especially when demolishing an old house which used asbestos in its construction. To do this, you should know how does asbestos look like.

It is best to share the housework among family members.  Each family member should contribute in making your home clean.  Plan your cleaning.  This way cleaning your home would be quick and easy.  Make a schedule, this will help you know what to clean, where to clean and who will clean for certain areas of the house.    Make sure to prioritize the important things first like disinfecting and cleaning the kitchen before and after preparing food, disinfect the bathroom especially the sinks, tub and shower to kill germs and mold buildup.  Let the shower curtain air-dry.  Dust, mop, and sweep regularly to control dust.  Do the laundry at least once a week.  Wipe spills when it runs dry.  Check clothing labels how to handle the garments.  Treat stains on clothes or garments as soon as they occur.

Learn the habit of clean as you go.  In this way, you don’t have to clean everything at once and the messier it gets when you leave it hanging for a long time.  It is best to discuss with your family how you will handle the cleaning and make the schedule together.

Amosite (Asbestos Mines of South Africa) or brown asbestos is commonly found in the mines of Africa and belongs to the group referred to as “amphibole”. Amphibole fibres are not hard and flexible unlike in chrysotile asbestos. The fibres of amphibole asbestos are brittle. It is very thin, as thin as a needle. It is usually use in pipe insulation and cements in many industries, trades and productions. It is also an additive to some plastics. Brown asbestos is frequently used mostly in thermal insulation products as a fire retardant. People who are exposed in this type of asbestos, you will most likely to have diseases such as lung cancer. Brown asbestos is considered to be the most dangerous among all other types of asbestos. Because of this, the use of brown asbestos is banned in some other countries.

Asbestos has its own advantages and disadvantages in some other ways. It has a great contribution in some industries and products but prolong exposure will affect your health.

The most frequent way of being exposed to asbestos is actually by being surrounded by these and moving them or disturbing them, by doing this you breathe the air with flowing fibers. The fibres make their way to your lungs and after several months, many years, decades irritating your throat and lungs finally causing inflammation and scarring of the bronchioles or throat, which often can therefore result in serious respiratory system conditions.

Asbestos has become a classified carcinogenic in most developed countries ever since the late 70’s. Research indicates that exposure to asbestos may cause lung cancer and also a relatively rare cancer inside the membranes that line the chest area and abdominal area. Exposure to asbestos may also add to the risk of a condition referred to as “Asbestosis”, that’s an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs which could cause shortness of breath, coughing and long term lung damage. All of these diseases from asbestos particle direct exposure are highly not likely, unless you are continually exposed to asbestos fibres in the air. It’s considered a good idea to eliminate asbestos from your home, but get it done by a specialist. An expert would’ve all the equipment required as well as being an authority who wouldn’t endanger his/her own life or that of individuals residing in the house.