How to lower your asbestos exposure
Vinyl floor tiles, brake pads, attic insulation, caulk and spackling compounds and thousands of other products contain asbestos, a dangerous substance known to cause mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. Asbestos fibers are so small that 20,000 of them can fit in a space the size of Abraham Lincoln’s beard on a penny.
According to Linda Reinstein of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the United States is one of only two industrialized nations – the other being Canada – that has not banned asbestos, despite the fact that its hazards have been known to the scientific community for 100 years. Reinstein lost her husband Alan to mesothelioma several years ago.
April is Asbestos Awareness Month, and the ADAO is encouraging people to learn more about asbestos exposure, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases and proposed legislation that would ban products that contain asbestos.
The ADAO urges people to rule out the possibility of asbestos in their homes before they begin any type of renovation project, as it was commonly used for insulation and fireproofing in construction materials until the 1970s. Homeowners are advised not to remove or damage any type of asbestos-containing materials, not to disturb any sort of dust or debris that may contain asbestos and to consult with asbestos professionals whenever asbestos-containing materials are involved. If homeowners are unsure whether or not their home contains asbestos, contractors can be hired to conduct an asbestos survey.
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