Separating the Myths from the Facts About Asbestos Exposure

If you have asbestos in your home, you should seriously consider removing it because of the dangers associated with exposure. You should also take the time to educate yourself more about asbestos so that you can make an informed decision about it. It’s essential to have asbestos testing in San Francisco done to determine whether immediate asbestos removal is necessary. Here are some common myths and facts about asbestos.

Myth: Companies that used asbestos products many years ago were unaware of the dangers associated with them.
Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. While there were some companies that didn’t know how harmful Asbestos Testing in San Francisco asbestos could be at one time, there were also many industry leaders that reportedly knew about the health risks associated with asbestos and tried to downplay them.

Myth: The only health risk associated with asbestos is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is the disease that most people associate with asbestos exposure, however, lung cancer, asbestosis, and COPD are some of the other diseases that have been proven to plague those who have come into regular contact with asbestos. These diseases can take time to develop and symptoms from them may not show up for years after asbestos exposure.

Myth: Asbestos is no longer used to manufacture items in the United States.
The U.S. government stepped in back in the late 1980s and banned the use of asbestos in building materials and many other products. Asbestos is still used in some products , though, including automobile components, clothing, and even some construction materials.

Myth: Asbestos should be removed from homes as soon as it is detected.
If you have an asbestos test done and it reveals that you have asbestos located inside of your home, you should definitely consider removing it to avoid asbestos exposure and the health risks that come along with it. But asbestos is only dangerous to you when the materials that contain it are damaged. Therefore, you should speak with a company that can remove asbestos to see what the best course of action is and how quickly you will need to get rid of it.