Asbestos - Identifying Asbestos In Your Home If fearing there is asbestos in your home, homeowners are advised not to mess with the material. In most instances, if the material is in good condition, the asbestos fibers will remain intact and will not float around. By trying to investigate without the use of a trained professional, the homeowner may actually be creating the asbestos hazards. Once the asbestos fibers become airborne, the invisible fibers can be inhaled into the lungs, presenting serious health risks.
When a homeowner does suspect asbestos containing products are in their home, the material in question should be regularly checked for signs of wear or damage that would result in released asbestos fibers. An asbestos containing material that is exposed to vibrations, airflow or similar disturbances have a greater risk of becoming a potential asbestos hazard and should be monitored especially close for wear or damage.
If the material does start to show signs of wear or damage, limiting access to that area until a professional repairs or removes it will prevent the fibers from getting spread throughout the home and causing risk of exposure. Any type of remodeling or home repairs should not begin until asbestos dangers are identified and properly dealt with. Materials in question should be handled as if they contain asbestos until a qualified professional can confirm its risk.
The professional will determine if the materials contain asbestos by having it sampled and analyzed. A person untrained to take samples from asbestos containing materials could release fibers in the process and create health risks. In addition, the trained professional knows what to look for and if the material does pose a risk. Only damaged materials or materials that will be disturbed should be sampled for asbestos, but materials found in good condition that will not be disturbed by remodeling or anything else that could set the fibers airborne, should be left alone.
A homeowner having asbestos sampled in their homes should take the time to ensure the professional is adequately trained and has as much information on properly handling asbestos as possible. There are guidelines that the professional must observe in order to contain the potential risk of asbestos exposure, and a homeowner should make sure the steps are followed.
After taking certain preparatory measures, only the trained professional will be present for the sampling. Any heating or cooling systems should be shut down in order to prevent any released asbestos fibers from spreading, and a plastic sheet should be covering the area below the materials that will be sampled.
The smallest amount of the material needed to take a sample is taken after moistening the material with a water and detergent solution that will prevent more asbestos fibers from being released. Cutting the entire depth of the material and then placing it into a container that is tightly sealed, the professional should dispose of his/her gloves and the plastic sheet that was placed on the floor. Any affected areas should be cleaned off and the sampled area patched up to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. The sample should be sent to an EPA approved laboratory for analysis after it is labeled with an identification number, date and location from which the sample was taken.
Even though most products today do not contain asbestos, it is better to be cautious. Asbestos was heavily used in a wide range of products until the 1970s, so most people are still surrounded by materials containing asbestos on a regular basis. Asbestos exposure has been linked to lung diseases, cancers, asbestosis and other illnesses.
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