Dangers Of Using Asbestos Roof That You Should Be Wary Of

Most houses back in the day used asbestos materials as a roof for their house. Despite it being rare nowadays, there are still buildings out there that utilize asbestos roofs which are considered a potential hazard.

But certain individuals might be unaware of the dangerous effect of using asbestos and here we would further explain why asbestos can be detrimental to our health.

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What Is Asbestos?

The first thing to understand is where you can find this asbestos at. Most old houses or buildings will have asbestos as its roof. It is called asbestos as it is the sixth group types of natural mineral fibers.

This fiber is well known for its strength and durability as well as its being fireproof. Due to these traits, most of the building industry has used asbestos for various purposes.

Some of them include strengthening cement and plastic, soundproofing, and for insulation. Aside from that, it is also used for making buildings, clothes, and military vehicles fireproof.

The asbestos fibers that we commonly see are usually white or grey in color. But it can also be found in brown, green, and blue colors.

What Products Contain Asbestos?

The next thing you should take note of is the kind of products that may contain asbestos. The most common thing that most people would know is asbestos roofs.

But asbestos fibers are also used in pipe insulation, channels or furnace, sticking materials, tiles, and also boards.

Why Is Asbestos Harmful?

Originally this roof fiber does not pose a threat to our health unless this fiber is released into the air. And if that really happens, it will be dispersed into smaller particles.

These particles will then be carried by the wind and into our lungs as we inhale them. When these particles start to accumulate in our lungs, they can cause inflammation and ultimately scarring.

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That's not all as this will also make us prone to several diseases, some of which include:

Lung cancer
Mesothelioma (Chest and stomach cancer)
Asbestosis which causes permanent damage to the lung
Pleural effusion, a condition where fluid is accumulated in the lungs making us suffocate
Other forms of cancer involving the airway

Certain health bodies around the world have stated that asbestos is carcinogenic in nature.

Due to that, if you ever found any roof fibers that are cracked or smashed to bits, then you would want to stay as far away from the compromised product as you might inhale some of the particles in the air.

Who Are At Higher Risk Of Asbestos Exposure?

All individuals will be at risk when exposed to these dangerous fibers. If any houses or buildings where you lived that are still using an asbestos roof, then your risks just add up even more.

This is especially true if the roof is compromised as stated previously. But those who work continuously in industries handling asbestos will have an even higher risk.

This includes industries in shipbuilding, railways, construction, automotive, chemical production, and building demolition.

What Can You Do To Reduce Such Risks?

There are several ways for you to reduce your exposure to the dangers of asbestos.

Make sure that the rooftop is not broken or has any cracks on them. Make sure that the roof where you live is still in good condition and if not, simply remove them.
You can simply replace the asbestos roof with something much safer like zinc or tiled roof. But be sure to have someone professional to get it done as you don't want to put yourself at risk installing them.
You can simply call the local municipality to remove any broken asbestos near you so that they can remove them accordingly.
Never attempt to burn them instead as you not only cause harm to yourself but to others around you too.
Keep asbestos away from children.
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Final Words

Regardless of all those risks, it will take around 30 - 40 years for you to see the negative effect of asbestos after the first exposure. However, the longer and more chronic the exposure is, the timeframe will be even shorter.

Therefore, it is always wise to look at your surroundings and see for any signs of asbestos use so that you can take quick action as stated previously. Always share this vital information with the people around you or any individuals that you know who might still be using asbestos roofs over their heads.

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