The Importance of Asbestos Testing: Why It’s Necessary for Your Health and Safety

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral used in construction materials for homes, schools, and workplaces. The most common materials that contain asbestos include:

• Vermiculite insulation
• Vinyl flooring
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint and patches
• Hot water pipes
• Furnaces and door gaskets
• Pipe and Boiler Insulation
• Plaster walls and ceilinsg
• Caulking and mastics

You may also encounter asbestos in heat-resistant fabrics and around the clutch and brakes in your car.

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Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can break down into microscopic particles and contaminate the air. Breathing in these tiny particles may cause health conditions like asbestosis and pleural disease or increase your risk for cancer.

Keep in mind that the risk of developing these health conditions can be higher depending on the duration and intensity of exposure. Your risk also depends on whether you have pre-existing lung problems or smoke tobacco products.

Unfortunately, you cannot always identify asbestos exposure immediately. For most people, the effects of extreme or prolonged asbestos exposure do not show up for 10 to 40 years.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a lung condition characterized by scarred pulmonary tissue. The scarred tissue can eventually restrict the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the lungs.

This health condition is more common in individuals who have been exposed to high amounts of asbestos over a long time.

Pleural Disease

Pleural disease is a lung condition affecting the pleura, which are the membranes of the lungs and chest cavity. When exposed to asbestos, the pleura may thicken, or fluid may surround the lungs.

People with pleural disease may have trouble breathing or experience reduced pulmonary function.

Cancer

Asbestos exposure is linked to certain cancers, especially lung cancer and mesothelioma. Cancers of the pharynx, stomach, colorectum, larynx, and ovary are also linked to asbestos.

Being exposed to asbestos is not a direct cause of these cancers. However, it can increase the risk of developing them.

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Can You Reverse Asbestos Exposure?

No, you can’t reverse asbestos exposure. Once the fibers get into your lungs, they cannot be removed. That’s why the best strategy for avoiding the health effects of asbestos exposure is to prevent it.

Prevention begins with checking for asbestos materials in your home. You can also reduce your risk of asbestos-related health effects by scheduling regular checkups with your doctor and getting vaccinated against flu and pneumonia.

Individuals who smoke should also consider quitting. Smoking may exacerbate the negative effects of asbestos exposure on your health. Additionally, breathing in asbestos and smoking can compound your risk of lung disease.

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When to Check for Asbestos

You can check for asbestos at any time. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only recommends testing if you believe your home has asbestos materials and they are damaged or subject to renovation.

Remember that asbestos is usually only dangerous when disturbed, such as during installation or repair. Under normal conditions, asbestos fibers should not be a cause for concern, which is why most asbestos products are not banned.

To be on the safe side, we recommend having your home or building tested if it was built before the 1980s. Asbestos materials were used in higher volumes before the ’80s and are at a higher risk of being damaged.

Homeowners and investors may also consider an asbestos testing service before selling or leasing their property. That way, prospective buyers or renters will have peace of mind and be more willing to pay top dollar.

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How to Check for Asbestos

The best way to protect yourself and your family from asbestos is to have suspect materials tested by a licensed asbestos testing company. At AAA Lead Professionals, we have years of experience in testing for asbestos containing materials. A licensed and experienced asbestos testing professional understands and knows how to search and test for asbestos materials. Where as someone who is unexperienced and unknowledgeable may not realize what items need testing and may not know where to look and find potential asbestos hazards.

Asbestos testing involves taking samples of the actual materials in question and having it analyzed by a certified laboratory to determine if it contains asbestos. There are different requirements depending on the type of material of how many samples of each material should be taken to make sure it does not contain asbestos.

Additionally, air sampling should be done to make sure the air you breathe is not contaminated with asbestos fibers. This involves having a special cassette and air pump to pull air through the cassette and then have it analyzed for asbestos fibers by a certified laboratory.

Our meticulous and detailed testing ensures the materials you use are asbestos-free and helps you identify existing materials to handle with care. It also prevents cross-contamination, making the air safer to breathe for all.

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How to Remove Asbestos

Removing asbestos material is a risky job. That’s why only licensed and certified professionals like AAA Lead Professionals are legally allowed to remove and dispose of Asbestos Containing Materials.

We are OSHA, DOL and EPA-certified and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Labor to perform asbestos abatement. Our expert, two-step process allows for safe removal and disposal to keep you and your loved ones safe.

The first step of our process involves preparing your home for removal. We seal off the area with airtight plastic barriers and HEPA air filtered air scrubbers and use wet abatement methods to reduce the risk of air contamination.

Once we have removed the Asbestos Containing Materials, we will encapsulate the surfaces and clean the work area to eliminate debris. The final step is to test the area again to ensure it is free of any remaining asbestos fibers.

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Searching for ‘Asbestos Testing Near Me’?

Asbestos is a fiber found in materials used to construct homes and buildings, but it can be hazardous to your health. Learning how to check for asbestos and remove materials that contain it can help you keep yourself and your family safe.

Want to know the asbestos testing price near you? AAA Lead Professionals has been serving New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania since 2009. We are a top-rated company trusted by residential, commercial, and institutional customers alike.

Get a quote today to find out how much asbestos testing services will cost you.

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