Asbestos was a very popular material in building and construction because it does not catch fire and is very durable. However, when people discovered the possible health risks associated with asbestos exposure, the material was banned. It is now rare to find structures made with materials containing asbestos. However, older homes still contain traces of the mineral. When asbestos is left intact, it poses little to no health risk to the people in the home. However, when structures like vinyl floors, roof shingles and plaster putties start falling apart, the fibres of the element become exposed. Long-term exposure to the mineral leads to mesothelioma. There are people who even suffer poisoning from secondary exposure to asbestos through the following routes.
Laundry
Clothes worn by people when removing asbestos are one of the major causes of secondary exposure to asbestos. Ideally, people are supposed to wear disposable coveralls when demolishing buildings that have asbestos. The jagged structure of the asbestos fibres makes it easy for them to attach to your clothing and the moment they do, removing them is not easy. All laundry from people who have handled asbestos should be washed separately or disposed.
Furniture
When removing asbestos, experts recommend that all the furniture in the house should be either removed or covered with a plastic bag. When the furniture is not properly covered, asbestos fibres could get embedded, leading to secondary poisoning. In case you suspect that fibres could have landed on upholstery or carpets, remove them and have them cleaned or replaced.
Body contact
Contact such as hugs from people who were in direct contact with asbestos can also lead to exposure. If a parent works in construction projects that involve coming into contact with asbestos, having their children sit on their laps after work could lead to the children developing mesothelioma.
Those are some of the most common secondary sources of asbestos exposure. The best way to protect your family from death or disease coming from exposure is to ensure that asbestos removal is done by professionals only. The experts will ensure the home gets the right cautionary measures before removal. The removalists will also know the right permissions to ask before starting the removal and the right places to do the disposal. As long as the removalists come from a licensed company and they know the risk factors involved, you can be assured that family will be protected from asbestos exposure.
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