| As you are probably aware, asbestos was a | | | | house inspected for asbestos. However, it is |
| commonly used building material from the | | | | better to be safe than sorry. If you suspect that |
| 1900s-1980s which is now mostly outlawed. It | | | | something in your house contains asbestos, you |
| causes numerous diseases, including a specific lung | | | | should take a sample of it and send it to a lab for |
| cancer called mesothelioma. Because of the | | | | testing. |
| dangers of this substance, it is important to | | | | To take a sample you should first make sure that |
| identify and treat asbestos in your home. | | | | you are protected from accidental insulation. You |
| Although asbestos was first used by ancient | | | | may want to wear a surgical mask to protect |
| cultures such as the Greek, Chinese, and Persians, | | | | your airways. Next, spray the asbestos down |
| it rose to popularity in the 1900s. Its claim to | | | | with water to wet down the fibers and make |
| fame is that it has some very useful properties, | | | | them cling to each other. This lessens the risk of |
| especially for the construction industry. As a | | | | them breaking apart and floating into the air. Use |
| silicate mineral, asbestos is extremely resistant to | | | | a small knife or other tool to remove a bit of the |
| heat, chemicals, fire, electricity, and degradation. | | | | sample. Place it in a container, making sure that |
| Asbestos itself is known for being flexible and | | | | the sample is completely enclosed in the airtight |
| having strong tensile strength. Thus, it is no | | | | device. Label it and send it in to a laboratory for |
| surprise that it was incorporated in everything | | | | testing. If you suspect that asbestos is in multiple |
| from joint compound to piping to brake pads. | | | | places throughout your house, you need to take |
| In houses, asbestos can be found in drywall, | | | | a sample for each thing. |
| plaster, texturing, caulk, counter tops, pipes, | | | | Lab sampling can be expensive and can range |
| roofing tar, shingles, vinyl flooring, and fireproofing | | | | from $20 to $40 per sample tested. However, |
| sheets. The problem with the prevalence of | | | | this price is low considering that asbestos in your |
| asbestos is that it can easily flake from its | | | | house can come with the emotional price of |
| housing. Microscopic pieces of asbestos can get | | | | extreme illness and even death. |
| lodged in your lungs and cause mesothelioma and | | | | If you or someone you know has found illegal |
| lung cancer. It has also been linked to warts, | | | | asbestos in the home, leading to mesothelioma, |
| pleural plaque buildup, and cancers such as | | | | you may be entitled to financial compensation to |
| gastrointestinal, colorectal, esophageal, and throat. | | | | help. For more information regarding this disease, |
| Of course, if someone in your house develops | | | | check out the mesothelioma injury lawyers at the |
| any of these diseases, you should have your | | | | firm of Williams Kherkher today. |