Millions of individuals have been impacted by asbestos exposure, especially those who live or work in older buildings. Asbestos was used a lot in building for a long time because it was strong and resistant to fire. Now, though, we know that it can be quite bad for your health when it is disturbed. How much exposure is truly unsafe is one of the most prevalent queries that property owners ask. The fact is that even modest doses might be dangerous, depending on the situation.

You can protect yourself, your family, and anybody on your property by learning how asbestos exposure works and when it becomes harmful.

Why Asbestos Is Harmful

When microscopic fibers of asbestos get into the air and are breathed in, they become deadly. These fibers are quite small and may stay in the air for a long time. Once you breathe them in, they can get stuck in your lungs and stay there forever.

Over time, asbestos particles can cause significant infections, scarring, and inflammation. These include asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare but severe disease that only attacks the lining of the lungs or abdomen.

The risk comes from breathing in fibers that are in the air, not from asbestos that is still sealed and undisturbed.

There Is No Level of Exposure That Is Totally Safe

Most doctors believe that there is no perfectly safe degree of exposure to asbestos. There is some danger even with short or low-level exposure. But the risk of becoming sick really goes up the more time you spend with it.

People who worked in construction, demolition, shipbuilding, or manufacturing for a long time were historically the most at danger. These workers typically breathed in a lot of asbestos fibers every day.

That yet, even short-term exposure during house repairs or damage can still be deadly if the right steps aren’t taken.

Things That Affect Risk

Asbestos exposure can be problematic for a number of reasons.

Length of time of exposure
Health hazards go up a lot when you are exposed for months or years at a time.

The amount of fibers in the air
More airborne asbestos fibers are more harmful than fewer.

How often you are exposed
Repeated exposure over time makes the lungs hold more asbestos fibers.

The state of asbestos materials
Asbestos that is broken, disintegrating, or disturbed lets additional fibers into the air.

Health and lifestyle of each person
People who smoke and are around asbestos have a much higher chance of getting lung cancer.

Why Professional Asbestos Testing and Removal Matters

Testing can show if there is asbestos and assist you figure out the safest way to deal with it. Asbestos may often be safely confined or removed by specialists who have been trained to do so.

Contact Native Environmental for Professional Asbestos Services

If you think there could be asbestos in your house or business, you need to get it inspected and removed by a professional for your own protection. Native Environmental provides professional asbestos testing, containment, and removal services all around Arizona.

Call Native Environmental now to set up an inspection and make sure your surroundings is safe and sound.