Asbestos Hazards

asbestos hazard

Asbestos has always been a respiratory hazard and respiratory/gastrointestinal carcinogen. Asbestos tends to break down into a dust of microscopic size fibers. Exposure to asbestos occurs when respirable fibers are released into the air and then inhaled. Because of their size and shape, these tiny fibers remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and can easily penetrate body tissues after being inhaled or ingested. Remember, asbestos fibers are much too small to be seen without a powerful microscope. In fact, an average human hair is approximately 1200 times thicker than an asbestos fiber.

Asbestos is especially dangerous when breathed in. It is very hard to determine if asbestos is present in the air you breathe, as it does not cause immediate problems like coughing or itchiness. Symptoms may not appear for 10 to 40 years after being exposed to asbestos. Diseases caused by asbestos are hard to treat and most often impossible to cure. Asbestosis is one common asbestos related disease. It causes an inflammation in the lungs. Mesothelioma is a rare asbestos disease that is a cancer of the outside lining of the lungs and abdomen. Asbestos has also been associated with other forms of lung cancer. Asbestos related diseases are very painful. Since exposure occurs when asbestos is inhaled, the best way to prevent exposure is to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne...Period.

Asbestos is no longer used due to the health concerns surrounding this material. Asbestos is most dangerous when a product made from it is bothered and the dust is released into the air. The only way to safely handle, detect, encapsulate or remove asbestos is through a Massachusetts professional who is trained to work with asbestos.

 

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Dave had an impressive website that seemed to be too thorough to be anything but genuine. The thing that seemed to sell me was that he says right on his website that you may pay a little more for his service, but that his quality is higher. So I decided to give him a try even though I had no reference from another person hoping for someone of top quality. I was not disappointed. He was at the home early as promised and had done an inspection of the exterior and was writing up notes so that when I arrived, he walked me through the exterior first. Even with his early arrival, we were still there for about 3 hours looking through every little corner and cubby. He would occasionally stop and fill out his inspection forms which were easy to follow and read; he gives you a full folder of his notes that are well organized.

Dave was open to all questions and concerns so every time I saw something that was potentially concerning to me, he would look, give his opinion and often shared other experiences with similar circumstances. He also had a good sense of humor which helped to lighten what can be a stressful experience (having someone pointing out problem items that you didn't see). I would highly recommend Massachusetts Home Inspections.

Michael

                                       

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Last updated on  Feb 19, 2020