Most of us are now aware of the very real risk that asbestos provides; inhaling even the slightest amount can eventually lead to asbestosis or even lung cancer and this harmful substance is found naturally in some parts of the world, where it used to be mined in great quantities. The list of materials and products that could contain asbestos is indeed long and includes the following.
- Asbestos Adhesives – These include roof sealant, pipe lagging, duct tape, furnace cement and other forms of glue used in construction. In the event you think asbestos might be present in your home, search online for asbestos removal in Perth and this will bring up a list of local contractors that are approved to test for the presence and removal of asbestos in any form.
- Asbestos Felt – This was primarily used with roofing and sometimes flooring, largely because of its excellent heat resistant properties. While the majority of felt roofing that contains asbestos has already been removed, there are still older buildings that have asbestos felt roofing.
- Insulation Sheeting – This might be a partition and asbestos was commonly mixed with other materials when sheets were pressed in the 1960s and if you were to saw through such a sheet, asbestos fibres would quickly become airborne and that is where the danger lies.
- Asbestos Textiles – These would include protective clothing, fire blankets and upholstery, although these would not be found in the average home.
- Asbestos Contaminated Talcum Powder – Some brands of talcum powder contain minute amounts of asbestos, although none would be available in Australia, where its use has been banned since the 1980s.
- Certain Consumer Products – Pot holders, ash trays, wicks for gas ranges and fake snow for Xmas decorations could all contain asbestos, but the products would have to be quite old.
- Fire Insulation Boarding – A high percentage of asbestos is mixed with other materials to form boards that are used for fire insulation. Of course, it isn’t always clear cut whether asbestos was used in the making of something and in such situations, you should call in an asbestos removal specialist, who can test for the presence of asbestos.
The list of products and materials that might contain asbestos is long and unless you are sure there is no asbestos present in your home, don’t remove old building materials until asbestos testing has been carried out. Then you can rest assured that your family is safe from the very real dangers that asbestos presents.
