Asbestos is a heat and fire resistant material that was used before 1989 in buildings to insulate heating pipes. It is made up of long fibers that are smaller than what can be seen by the eye and they can be breathed in. They are so small, in fact, that they can be sucked into an air filter and passed right back out of a vacuum cleaner. Asbestos fibers can become lodged in internal body tissues when they are breathed in and this can cause cancer. Most people will develop no symptoms unless they are exposed to high amounts of asbestos. The inspection will determine if the asbestos is deteriorating and causing a problem and needs to be removed.

Health risks of asbestos

Breathing in asbestos can cause lung cancer and other serious lung diseases. If you are concerned about possible exposure to asbestos, talk to your health-care professional.

How is asbestos harmful to your lungs?

When asbestos is cut, grounded up or disturbed, asbestos fibers can fly into the air and stay there for a long time. When you breathe in, asbestos fibers can get stuck deep in your lungs. The fibers damage the alveoli, the tiny air sacs at the end of your breathing passages, deep in your lungs. Normally your alveoli inflate and deflate like a balloon, taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. Healthy alveoli are nice and stretchy. Asbestos causes damage and scarring (fibrosis) so your alveoli become stiff, not stretchy. When your alveoli are stiff your lungs have a harder time taking in oxygen, and the muscles in your chest have to work harder to force the air in and out of your lungs.

Asbestos also increases the risk of developing lung cancer, especially in those who have smoked.

Is asbestos still in use?

These days, only a small number of products sold in Canada contain asbestos. Asbestos may be still used in brake linings, clutch facings and some roof shingles. Asbestos is regulated in Canada by the federal government’s Hazardous Products Act.

Nowadays, Canadians are most often exposed to asbestos when they’re working in an industry that makes or uses asbestos products, or when they are knocking down or fixing old buildings. People who work near asbestos should use special equipment and have special training on how to limit their exposure. Handling material that contains asbestos is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer; it requires the expertise and the equipment of a professional. If you are planning to repair or seal a building that may contain asbestos, hire an experienced contractor with specialized training in how to handle and remove asbestos.

Although asbestos is banned for use in most Canadian products, it is still mined here in Canada and it is still exported and widely used in other countries. This means millions of people around the world are exposed to asbestos and at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.

How to check for, or prevent asbestos exposure in your home?

If you are buying a new building, or doing a renovation project in a building built before the 1980s, you may be putting yourself at risk for asbestos exposure without even knowing it. Asbestos may be found in wall insulation, insulation around hot-water and steam pipes, soundproofing and decorative materials on the walls and ceilings, ironing board pads, textured paint, roofing and siding shingles, vinyl floor tiles and other items in your building or property. You do not need to remove these products, as long as they are not damaged or falling apart. If the material is damaged, do not remove it yourself – removing or disturbing the asbestos will release the asbestos fibers into the air.

Call EnviroComm Inspections to schedule your commercial property asbestos inspection in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

EnviroComm a division of Inch by Inch Inspections Inc. Schedule your commercial inspection with confidence!