Asbestos Floor Tile – What’s The Big Deal?
Asbestos Floor Tile – What’s The Big Deal?
What’s the big deal with asbestos floor tile? Well there are some very serious health problems that can occur as a result of asbestos that you should fully understand in order to protect yourself and family members. If your house was built between the 1950s and the 1980s, asbestos floor tile may of been the best option for your home. Today, we know that this type of tile can cause a host of health problems when it starts to break down and is inhaled into our bodies.
Asbestos floor tile is of course made from asbestos with is a fibrous mineral that is fire resistant and have good strength and flexibility. It can be easily used in the manufacturing process which made it an idea substance to use. Of course when it was being used heavily in the production process no one was aware of how hazardous this material could be. Workers soon began to develop lung related illnesses which prompted studies on asbestos. These studies later proved just how much of a hazard asbestos was to our bodies causing such diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Because of asbestos fire retardant properties it was widely used in insulation. In fact, most people think of asbestos in the home as being isolated to insulation for furnaces. It was widely used for that purpose of course but that is just one of it’s many uses. In the home you may find asbestos material not only in duct and furnace insulation but in various gaskets, roofing, siding, ceilings and walls and of course asbestos floor tile. Remember that old ironing board cover that you could put a hot iron on without burning. There’s a good chance that it had asbestos woven into the fabric.
This article is not meant to caused panic or to scare you into thinking that you need to immediately remove all asbestos containing material from your home. In fact, most asbestos containing material caused no threat if they remain intake. The problem is when asbestos floor tile and other asbestos containing material start to break down. When the material is damaged the microscopic fibers are released into the air where they are easily inhaled into the lungs. Once there they can caused a host of health problems including mesothelioma. We often here of safe levels when being exposed to different toxins. With asbestos there are none. Inhaling these fibers should be avoided at all cost period.
If you are the do it yourself type you maybe thinking of attempting the project of removing asbestos floor tile and other asbestos containing material from your home. You will be well advised not to try it. Not only can you caused great harm to yourself if you’re not extremely cautious and know what you’re doing, but you can also put your family in harms way. As mentioned earlier, asbestos fibers are microscopic and once released into the air they are easily inhaled into the lungs. In fact, in most states it’s illegal for you to remove asbestos floor tile unless you are a fully trained and licensed asbestos abatement professional. There are kits available for you to take a sample of the material you suspect of containing asbestos and then sending it off to a lab to have analyzed, but that is a far as you should go yourself. It’s just not worth the possible health risk.
Asbestos floor tile doesn’t posed any harm as long as it remains undamaged. It’s when these tiles become broken and brittle that they released their asbestos fibers into the air. Some do it your-selfers have placed new flooring over asbestos floor tile to save the time and money in having it removed. This isn’t a safe practice. Remember that we are talking about microscopic fibers here that can’t be easily seen with the naked eye. If the asbestos floor tile is damaged in the process of laying over a new floor your health is at risk. Asbestos floor tile in the home is a big deal; especially if it’s damaged. Do yourself a favor and contact a licensed asbestos abatement professional for proper advice on keeping you and your family safe.
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Floor Tiles With Asbestos & The Problems Associated With Them
Floor Tiles With Asbestos & The Problems Associated With Them
Floor tiles with asbestos should be a concern to everyone but especially if you live in an older home. By early I’m talking about early 80s on back. In these older homes there’s a good chance that the flooring installed may have contain asbestos. This type of flooring wasn’t a new discovery to that time period as asbestos had been in used for 100′s of years in various parts of the world. It’s actually a strong material that resist fire and a host of chemicals.
The expansion of using floor tiles with asbestos came about during the industrial revolution and at that time it was considered to be the best material for a host of building solutions for homes as well as commercial use. As workers in the manufacturing sector started to make products containing asbestos, different sicknesses effecting the lungs started to appear. Of course this sparked a big debate as to whether asbestos was causing the illnesses but by the 1980′s proof was firmly established of a link between asbestos and certain lung diseases including mesothelioma. It was finally established that floor tiles with asbestos and other products containing asbestos wasn’t a safe option to be used.
Responsible companies and builders immediately stopped using asbestos containing materials as a direct response to the studies they were made on the material which was great for all future applications of the building process. The problem is that floor tiles with asbestos as well as asbestos material in walls and ceilings were already placed in homes across America.
Before you panic let’s look at how floor tiles with asbestos can become harmful to you and your family. As stated earlier these tiles had stopped being used in the early 80′s. They were being installed starting in the 1950′s. Now that you know the time period you also need to know that tiles containing asbestos posed no harm as long as they are in good condition. The problem comes in when and if the tiles become broken or brittle.
Floor tiles with asbestos becomes a hazard when it’s handled incorrectly. This usually happens when it’s being replaced. The problem is when these tiles are brittle or broken they can release their tiny fibers into the atmosphere where they are easily inhaled into the lungs. Once in the lungs a host of problems can occur including mesothelioma and asbestosis. The first step to protecting your health is the find out if you indeed have floor tiles with asbestos in your home.
There are people who have unknowingly exposed themselves to asbestos by removing floor tiles with asbestos. They may not even be aware of what asbestos is least alone know that it maybe in their homes. This article is to inform you in the hopes that you will share what you’ve learned with others. If you have or know someone who has a home that was built prior to the early 80′s is imperative for that home to be tested for asbestos. If the home is found to contain asbestos a license professional should be called in to thoroughly check out the situation and recommend a course of action. Remember floor tiles with asbestos that are intact pose no threat to you but if it becomes brittle or broken you maybe exposing yourself to a host of breathing problems including mesothelioma cancer.
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Posted by asbestos - March 11, 2011 at 5:04 pm
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