Why Asbestos Testing Is So Important

Professional asbestos testing is strongly recommended for any home or business built prior to 1985, if you are planning to renovate or repair your building. Up until that time, asbestos was commonly used in various applications of construction. Because many of those structures are still standing, testing and Toronto asbestos removal is critical. With Toronto asbestos testing, a qualified expert will determine whether this material is a risk.

When hiring a reputable asbestos services company., the asbestos removal cost is affordable, especially when you consider all of the health benefits. One of the many reasons why commercial and residential asbestos removal is so important is that structures begin to deteriorate with age. If disturbed, asbestos fibers become airborne and are then inhaled, potentially causing health issues.

That alone creates a risk, but since this material was used for multiple purposes, it is often found in places where only professional asbestos removal companies know to look. Asbestos is classified as non-friable, which is firmly bound, or friable, which is loosely bound. Non-friable asbestos is embedded in hardened objects so it does not pose a major threat. On the other hand, because friable asbestos is loose, this is what experts worry about the most.

Friable asbestos is found in insulation used around stoves, water pipes, and boilers; spray-on soundproofing and insulation; textured ceilings (popcorn); paints; various coatings; loose fill ceiling and roof insulation; and heat-resistant fabrics. Often, asbestos is disturbed doing an improvement, renovation, or demolition project. Drilling, sawing and other standard activities cause asbestos to crumble. If airborne fibers are inhaled, they become lodged in lung tissue. The three primary health concerns include:

1. Asbestosis – This chronic lung disease causes significant scarring, leading to breathing difficulty, coughing, and chest pain. If the lungs and heart are over-stressed, cardiac arrest becomes a huge threat.
2. Lung Cancer – This risk is intensified for people who smoke.
3. Mesothelioma – This is the worst possible outcome. Initially, pleural mesothelioma develops whereby only the covering of the lungs are affected, but this can worsen to peritoneal mesothelioma of the abdomen.

Even the minimum risks of breathing in asbestos, such as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, are bad. You can see why it is imperative that you hire the best asbestos services company. At Air Doctors, our team of experts has experience and expertise in asbestos testing and removal. To learn more, visit our website, or call to schedule an appointment to have your home or business tested today.