Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos is extremely fibrous and if the tiny fibres become airborne they are easily inhaled by humans or animals and can become trapped in the lungs, causing serious illness. Being exposed to asbestos increases the risk of developing cancers of the lung, ovary and larynx as well as mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lung). Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer.
Asbestos fibres are not visible to the human eye. When the fibres become airborne they remain suspended in the air for a long time and can be carried long distances by the wind. The asbestos fibres generally do not break down, so for example if they’re buried in soil then that soil remains unsafe to humans.
There are two classifications of asbestos – friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos is soft and crumbly and is the most dangerous type as it becomes airborne very easily. Non-friable asbestos is usually bonded, solid and rigid.
Asbestos material can be found in just about all areas of the home, most commonly including:
- Asbestos Roofing
- Asbestos Fencing
- Gutters / Eaves
- Bathroom wall sheeting
- External wall sheeting
- Vinyl floor tiles and adhesives
Asbestos roofing and fencing can sometimes be easy to spot as it is usually a corrugated style and white/grey in colour however it is also easily painted. It can be more difficult to identify asbestos sheeting and which types of vinyl floor tiles contain asbestos.
It is recommended that if you have any suspicion of asbestos material in your home that a small sample should be tested by a professional before undergoing any renovation. Once you have tested the material you will know if you can safely proceed or if you require the help of The Asbestos Guys to remove the dangerous material.
Historic Use of Asbestos in Melbourne
Asbestos was previously used extensively in building products in Melbourne and throughout all of Victoria (as well as the rest of Australia).
Asbestos cement materials were commonly used from the mid 1940’s until the late 1980’s. The danger of asbestos was well known by the 1980’s and it was eventually phased out of all building products. If your property is built after 1990, it is still possible that it can contain asbestos material, however it’s less likely.
Essentially, the areas within Melbourne and Victoria where housing was built between the 1940’s and 1980’s is where most of the asbestos product will be found. Some common areas where we work on asbestos removal projects include:
The general regions where asbestos is more likely to be found include:
It is true that asbestos can be found in pretty much all areas of Victoria.
All use, import or manufacture of asbestos was banned completely in Australia by 2003 however residences that were built prior to that are likely to contain asbestos materials.