Many people remember the 80’s for the new genre of music but may still remember the concerns and panic that developed because of asbestos and the concerns that exposure to these fibrous materials had the potential to cause cancer and other serious respiratory problems. This concern grew as the newspapers, magazines and the press picked up on the breaking revelation that asbestosis could be found almost everywhere in offices, ships, churches, schools, government buildings, and homes
Asbestos was a popular construction material until the l980s because of its desirable qualities. Asbestos is durable, fire-resistant, flexible, and insulates thermally well. It has been widely used to provide insulation and fireproofing for homes, acoustic insulation, roofing, and flooring for commercial buildings. However, asbestos has a controversial and hazardous reputation of causing sever lung problems and other diseases. Asbestos that is friable (that which crumbles when dried) is especially hazardous, and is more popularly used in earlier establishments.
Living in a property with intact asbestos does not always pose a health problem because studies show that asbestos health problems are from exposure over a long period of time. The concern for the property owner is when these asbestos fibers become disturbed for example during renovation, natural disaster or other things that cause the intact fibers to become comprised. These fibers can become airborne and as you inhale them it cause problems for your respiratory system.
These fibers can build up in your lungs causing lung cancer and mesothelioma which is cancer of the lungs and abdominal cavity lining. Asbestosis is considered permanent scarring of the lung tissue and these can prove to be deadly over time. As of today there is no cure for Asbestosis and most prognoses are poor since it typically is diagnosed in men over the age of 50. Treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy depending on when diagnosed and the location of the cancer.
Since 2003, asbestos has been totally banned as a building material, and asbestos abatement from establishments have been common since. However, removing asbestos is not an easy task, as asbestos removal requires a special team who is certified in handling asbestos. Testing should be done to identity the type of asbestosis you have and the extent. This will help determine the best approach to what is necessary to keep everyone safe.in the late 1970,s the Environmental protection agency (EPA) started training and certifying individuals to identify test and remove asbestos
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose and the medical team uses a comprehensive combination of biopsies, lab test, x-rays, detailed history and physical exams and various imaging scan to confirm the diagnosis. The disease is typically advanced at diagnosis making treatment difficult and there is no known cure for any type of mesothelioma cancer. Treatments options often require surgery in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Prognosis depends on the location of the cancer, the health status of the individual and their response to the various therapies offered.