What is Asbestos?
Houston Asbestos Testing. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. The EPA and CPSC have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles. Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those homes.
Houston Asbestos Testing
You can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by us. At Asbestos & Mold Services LLC, we will take samples for analysis. We will know what to look for and take precautions. There may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking your own samples is not recommended. If you nevertheless choose to take the samples yourself, take care not to release asbestos fibers into the air or onto yourself. Asbestos fibers cannot be seen without a special microscope. Analysis by an accredited testing laboratory is the only way to know for certain whether a material contains asbestos.
Asbestos Health Issues
There are no immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung diseases is very high. Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer. The most dangerous asbestos fibers are too small to be visible. After they are inhaled, they can remain and accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring that can be fatal). Symptoms of these diseases do not show up until many years after exposure began. Most people with asbestos-related diseases were exposed to elevated concentrations on the job, and some even developed disease from exposure to clothing and equipment brought home from job sites.
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Asbestos & Mold Services LLC (AMS) is committed to providing our clients with the best quality testing, state-of-the art inspections, timely reporting and unprecedented service.
