Do you have asbestos in your house?

February 18, 2011: MANILA, Philippines—If you are planning to renovate your house built in the 1970s, you may not be aware of the danger posed by such a job in terms of financial and health costs to your family. Homes built around this time are most likely to contain asbestos in their construction.
Asbestos is a mineral substance that was once considered a “miracle mineral” when it was used in the building industry in the 1800s.

At that time, asbestos was found to be readily available and inexpensive making it an ideal substance for household construction offering many benefits with no drawbacks. It was very effective for thermal insulation, acoustic control, moisture control and it made cement strong. It was put into paints, adhesives, clay, metal ware and even appliances. It filled many needs in various ways.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is from the Greek word “asbestinon” meaning unquenchable or inextinguishable. It is a natural silicate material with thin fibrous crystals. It is a known carcinogen but is only dangerous in the form of tiny airborne fibers.

Breathing in asbestos fibers increases your risk of developing lung cancer causing asbestosis or scarring of the lungs. This may lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that afflicts people exposed to asbestos. It can develop decades after the asbestos exposure.

Asbestos in your house

One of the most common areas in your house where asbestos material may be found is in corrugated asbestos-cement sheets for roofing and for side wall panels. Many of the earlier housing projects in Metro Manila used this type of roofing material.

Other examples where asbestos hazards may be found in your house are attic and wall insulation; textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints; some vinyl floor tiles including the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives; and hot water pipes coated with asbestos material or blanket.

What to do about it?

If you suspect that you have asbestos in your house that is in good condition, the best thing to do is to leave it alone. If your renovation work will not disturb the asbestos material do not do anything. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers.

Check your house regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Look for signs of wear or damage like cracks, abrasions or water damage. Material that is disturbed by hitting, rubbing or handling may release asbestos fibers.

In some cases it is best to prevent or limit access to the area to prevent touching or disturbing it.

There are generally two things you can do if asbestos is found in your house. One is by sealing method which involves treating the material with a sealant that binds the asbestos fibers together so that no fibers are released. This is done by asbestos professionals.

The second way is by covering method which involves placing a material over the asbestos material to prevent release of fibers.

Detecting if you have asbestos in your house is not an easy task because you cannot tell if a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it. If you are not sure, have the material sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional or laboratory. Taking samples yourself is not recommended.

What to remember

It’s best to minimize activities in areas where damaged materials may contain asbestos.

Avoid damaging asbestos material.

Do not dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.

Do not saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos materials

Don’t sand or level asbestos flooring

In developed countries where asbestos has been extensively used in the construction of their buildings and homes, there are asbestos professionals who are trained in handling asbestos materials.

Asbestos is banned in the United States, the European Union, Australia, Japan and other countries. Most products made today do not contain asbestos. The few products being manufactured which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. Meanwhile, we will continue to confront the problem that the industry has left us—asbestos in many of our homes and buildings. – Amado de Jesus, Philippine Daily Inquirer

For comments or inquiries, e-mail amadodejesus@gmail.com.