Why is asbestos dangerous? Artex
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s. It is still found today in many buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals. I
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s. It is still found today in many buildings, including homes, schools and hospitals. If disturbed, it can be a killer. Asbestos was widely used as an insulation and fire proofing solution.
Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) and causes around 5000 deaths every year.
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now.
Asbestos can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:
- Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road.
- Around 20 tradesman die each week as a result of past exposure
- However, asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a serious scarring condition of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos over many years. This condition can cause progressive shortness of breath, and in severe cases can be fatal.
Pleural thickening
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
For more information visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/Asbestos/
Plastering FX Ltd
The best place to find plastering services & information.
Plastering Fx are a well established and experienced Plastering Company based in Romford Essex area. Our work includes major projects such as apartments, housing projects, public building developments as well as smaller prestige properties and individual commissions.
We offer a full range of quality plastering and rendering services for the interior and exterior of your property at affordable prices.
We pride ourselves on delivering a very high standard of workmanship. With many years experience we have achieved a reputation for high quality work and ensure an excellent service. We understand working in partnership with our clients is extremely important and ensure exceptional communication at all levels.
