Asbestos can prove to be tricky when it comes to making alterations to your home. If you haven’t read our first blog post about Asbestos, head over there, or click here, to learn what it is and where it can hide.

If you know what asbestos is, or have read our previous post and want to learn about the dangers of asbestos, then keep reading.

Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos is often found in any building built before the year 2000 and can kill around 5000 people a year, if the material containing the asbestos is disturbed or damaged. This causes the fibres to be released into the air and if you inhale those fibres it can cause serious health problems such as mesothelioma, certain types of cancer and asbestosis.

Health Conditions Linked to Asbestos

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.

Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is the scarring of the lungs which is caused from a lot of exposure to asbestos over a number of years. It can cause shortness of breath and it can be fatal in some severe cases.

Pleural Thickening

Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.

These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now and have potential asbestos materials checked and removed.

How Do I Get Asbestos Removed?

As soon as you notice something that could potentially contain asbestos, or something that you know is asbestos, you should get an appointment booked in. If you are unsure if it’s asbestos, an expert will come out to take a sample of the material or substance and send it off for testing in an independent UKAS accredited laboratory. It’s important to know the severity of the asbestos and the kind it is so you know if it’s manageable or needs removing straight away. And it’s the exact same for materials you know are asbestos. If you’re not sure on the severity – get a sample taken or get some expert advice on whether it is manageable or needs removing.

At C Wood and Son we have an experienced team who can deal with your asbestos problems today. To get a quote for sample taking or to book in the removal works, give us a call on 01582 722119.