When Is It Appropriate To Test For Lead And Asbestos?

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer. It’s found in a variety of building materials and construction products, such as insulation, drywall, ceiling tiles, cement, paint, and fireproofing. It may also be buried beneath the ground in mine and mill tailings, asbestos-cement pipes or other contaminated sites.

Lead Poisoning is a disease caused by exposure to lead, a toxic metal that has been used in paint and other materials since the 19th century. Exposure to high levels of lead can lead to neurologic and behavioral disorders, anemia, abnormal vitamin D metabolism, nephropathy (kidney damage) and other health problems. Children and pregnant women are especially at risk, as lead can pass through the mother’s bloodstream while she’s pregnant or breastfeeding and accumulate in their bodies.

Where Is Asbestos Most Common?

Asbestos is usually found in homes, commercial buildings and public spaces built before the 1980s. Besides being a known carcinogen, it can also contaminate the air, water and soil around buildings where it was used.

If your home is built before 1978, you should have it tested for lead and asbestos by a professional contractor or abatement company. These professionals are specially trained to identify and test for harmful chemicals like lead and asbestos. Lead and asbestos can be found in many older homes in the form of paint, pipe insulation, and floor tiles. If these materials are disturbed, they can release microscopic particles into the air that can cause serious health issues. So, it is important to have lead and asbestos testing done to ensure the safety of your home and your family.

Whether you’re testing for asbestos or lead, make sure to use gloves, a mask and protective clothing when taking samples. You should also dispose of any asbestos-containing material that’s deteriorating or damaged as soon as possible.

The best way to detect asbestos is by sampling a small area of the material you’re concerned about. You can take the sample yourself, or have a professional do it for you. The sample must be collected, and analyzed in an accredited laboratory for asbestos fibers.

Before you start a remodeling project, it’s important to know if the project will disturb any asbestos materials. If the asbestos is more than slightly damaged, limit access to the area and don’t touch it or disturb it.

You’ll need to contact a licensed and experienced asbestos abatement professional to remove the contaminated material and restore the property to a safe condition. Before any work starts, ask the contractor to test for asbestos and lead in the areas that will be affected by your remodeling project.

How Can I Tell if My Home Has Asbestos?

Asbestos can be difficult to spot, but it’s usually in place if you have a textured paint job on your walls and ceilings. You’ll also find it in the ceiling tiles over your fireplace, behind your ducts and inside your walls, in your wood-burning stove, your bath panels and the wall beneath your windows.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure?

The most common symptoms of asbestos exposure are shortness of breath, chronic cough, and the formation of lung scarring. The symptoms get worse over time, and people often suffer from them for years after they’ve been exposed to asbestos.

If you’re looking for certified demolition in East York, it’s important to make sure that the contractor you hire is aware of the dangers associated with asbestos and how to safely remove it from your property.

As an Amazon Associate, Icy Canada earns from qualifying purchases.