What Is Asbestos, Types Of Exposure And Potential Scenarios

Once hailed as the miracle mineral is now an outsider to society and industry. Six specific naturally occurring minerals are a group called asbestos. These minerals are characterized by their long, fine fibers and were widely used due to their resistance to heat and fire as well as multiple chemicals due to which it got its nickname. But once it was discovered that asbestos contributes to cancer, there was a widespread concern and a collective call to weed it out of society for the safety of people. Slowly asbestos went out of favor with the public and substitutes were brought in.

Types Of Possible Exposure Scenarios

• Primary Exposure This exposure can also be referred to as occupational exposure since today's exposure to asbestos can only be possible while handling it in certain lines of work, one being asbestos removal but even here the professionals wear protective gear from head to toe to ensure no exposure takes place.

• Secondary Exposure This type of exposure occurs when the person exposed to asbestos interacts with other people such as friends and family. There is a good chance that the clothes are worn while exposure will still have fibers on them which release in the same vicinity as others can lead to others being exposed as well.

• Environmental Exposure This particular scenario is possible if you come in direct contact with asbestos or come in contact with things contaminated by it. For example, a factory producing asbestos that has a leak or is not able to properly dispose of its waste or the asbestos itself will contaminate the surroundings such as air, land and even water leading to potential exposure.

Residential Exposure Possibilities

• Drywall Drilling Older construction across the country has asbestos used in it in some concentration, especially in drywall. Before commencing any drilling, make sure to check up on construction dates and brand of materials used. It is a distinct possibility that drilling in asbestos-laden walls will cause asbestos fibers to be released into the air and when inhaled by others can cause serious damage to their health.

• Insulation Pipe Removal Older insulation pipes were made using asbestos. So it is advised that you not touch them or disturb them in any way since that could possibly disperse asbestos particles into the air. Twisting or turning them can lead to the pipe being chipped or even cut, tht will more than likely release asbestos particles which can potentially harm you.

• Home Renovations As stated above, older constructions had asbestos as an element in many components. So renovation of any part of the house can potentially trigger an asbestos alert. For example, if there is an old constructed house and the wiring needs to change for the house, there will be a lot of drilling and cutting across the entire house, now if asbestos was involved in construction, one is potentially exposing themselves to large amounts of asbestos which can be life-threatening. So before starting such projects, always look for asbestos removal in Colorado Springs or wherever you may be and ensure it is a safe environment to work in.

• Removal Of Vinyl Tiles Vintage tiles produced primarily in the 50s and earlier part of the 60s were done so using asbestos, which was a commonly used ingredient in other things as well. In case you come across such a commodity, it is best to stay away and let the professionals remove these tiles. A slight jerk to these laid tiles can release asbestos particles in the air, thereby contaminating the surroundings or even more so in some cases.

It is worth noting that it is impossible to detect asbestos by the naked eye. Only through asbestos tests done at a lab will we be able to determine whether or not there is any asbestos present. Then again, it is of the utmost importance that when under any suspicion of asbestos presence, always search and call for asbestos removal in Colorado Springs or wherever you may reside for that matter. The professionals know how to deal with asbestos in a way that no one gets harmed and the environment is safe as well.