“Asbestos” is derived from a Greek word that means “inextinguishable.” This is adequate to explain the fast development and the use of asbestos-containing construction products from the 1940s onwards. They were all the norm right then because of their high efficiency, fire resistance, and insulator characteristics. Nevertheless, this became clear in the subsequent decades when significantly increasing cases of mesothelioma surfaced. Australia has the largest mesothelioma fatality rates globally, with the bulk of victims hailing from Victoria And New South Wales! Hence The need for Asbestos Removal in Sydney has increased. While asbestos poisoning is dealt with by local bodies and specific departments in older buildings, you must be aware of the indicators in your own house.
The following is a list of places you should look out for to spot signs of asbestos poisoning:
Storage: Because storage areas are categorised as those parts of your space that are not often visited, they provide an additional danger of asbestos contamination. This is particularly true in older homes. Due to silicate insulating layers, asbestos can be detected in crawl spaces. These insulations have the appearance of small stones. Owing to the existence of asbestos, the brown coloured small grains experience a colour shift and take on a gravel look.
Floorboards are among the most prevalent places in your home where asbestos may be found. They can be found in ‘asphalt’ form; a substance used to join tiles. Asbestos may be found in abundance, particularly in older houses and buildings. Very ancient vinyl tiles have been found to possess asbestos, posing health risks. As a result, knowing the year of your flooring installations will be helpful. Furthermore, if you see oily secretions or discolouration in your house tiles, get expert assistance right then.
Pipes: Pipes, particularly ancient concrete pipes, are another common hiding place for asbestos. Sometimes your house drainages, along with old heaters, potentially contain enough asbestos to cause you to develop lethal respiratory infections like mesothelioma! Although it may be challenging to detect toxicity in pipework and insulating layers, it is advised that you professionally maintain pipes and drainage channels at least every six months.
Ceilings: If your property has tiled roofs, then you have even more reasons to be cautious about asbestos. Furthermore, corn ceilings, recognised for making a space soundproof, are notorious for containing asbestos deposits. As with contaminated tiled floors, asbestos-containing tiling roofs will seem oily and discoloured with time. Careful inspection of such ceilings will reveal the existence of small fibres strands.
Outdoor Roof: The construction and demands of the period dictated that traditional Sydney homes have huge outdoor overlapping roofs. Asbestos is more likely to be present in such shelters due to this. Tiled floors contain hazardous chemicals in the form of asphalt. To still be sure, you may contact a reliable Asbestos Removal in Sydney. Albeit only an expert can detect and cure asbestos-contaminated roofs. These roofs appear to be a combination of black and grey.
Asbestos poisoning may be lethal in some situations but is an unavoidable threat to your wellness and property. As a result, you should seek expert assistance in addition to annual upkeep and maintenance. It’s also a good idea to get medical help if you have a chronic cough, chest discomfort, itchy skin, or swollen fingers.