If you’re planning on home or building renovations, you may be considering doing the project yourself, from start to finish. However, if the project involves an older structure, there is a high likelihood that there is asbestos contained in the materials you will be ripping out. Given the extreme dangers associated with the product, it is critical for the safety of your family and anyone else that would be exposed that you consult with a Santa Monica, CA asbestos contactor before attempting any type of demolition. The professionals at Nielsen Environmental are here to help.
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?
For years, asbestos was heralded as an incredible material used as insulation and a fire retardant in a variety of building construction materials. It was known to help prevent the spreading of fires, thereby keeping buildings – and those inside – safer. Asbestos was used in multi-family homes, commercial buildings, schools, and other structures.
Once considered safe enough to use in any environment, people realized decades ago that airborne asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause various health problems, including asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos was used in building products for decades, even though manufacturers had evidence that it caused malignant cancers.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s – more than 30 years after the links to cancer were discovered – that asbestos was finally banned. Unfortunately, millions of buildings across the country are still filled with asbestos building materials and still exposing innocent property owners and others to those health hazards.
A Santa Monica asbestos contractor knows it is not just long-term exposure that can cause terminal medical conditions. There have been many documented cases where even just a minimum exposure can show up decades later as mesothelioma or other asbestos cancers. Other potentially deadly medical conditions exposure to asbestos can cause include:
- Asbestosis
- COPD
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- Laryngeal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pleural plaques
Why Call Nielson Environmental?
If you are planning any type of demolition or remodeling to your home or property and it was built prior to the 1980s, the first step you should take is to have the structure tested for asbestos. It is the inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers that cause those cancers and other medical issues. Remember, even minimum exposure can be perilous to your family’s health. Tearing down walls and ceilings, tearing up floors, and other demolition should never be done without testing for asbestos.
If you have recently purchased an older property that is in dire need of repair, it is critical to stay away from any areas with exposed materials that could potentially have asbestos. Testing should be done prior to the start of any renovations.
If your property does contain asbestos, a Santa Monica asbestos contractor can come in and remove and properly dispose of all these deadly materials. The team at Nielson Environmental has more than four decades of asbestos removal. Call our office today to find out how we can help.
