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What Are the Dangers of Asbestos?

It is important for everyone to make sure that their home is safe. When people think about the safety of their home, they often think about electrical safety, water safety, gas safety, and the integrity of the structure itself. At the same time, there are other hazards that people need to note. One of them is called asbestos. It is important for everyone to understand what asbestos is and the dangers that this fiber can present.

What Is Asbestos?

First, it is important for everyone to know that asbestos is a mineral compound that occurs naturally in the environment. These are flexible fibers that are incredibly resistant to corrosion, electricity, and heat. Even though this makes asbestos useful as an insulating material, it is also incredibly toxic. Over many years, asbestos that is trapped in the body can lead to inflammation, scarring, and tissue damage. This is where the danger of asbestos comes on.

Can Asbestos Cause Cancer?

The biggest danger of asbestos is that this material can lead to cancer. Specifically, this type of cancer is called mesothelioma. Asbestos causes this damage by attacking the body’s DNA. At the DNA of the body changes, cancer will develop. Furthermore, mesothelioma is almost exclusively seen in individuals who have been exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma comes in many shapes and forms. Some of the symptoms that people might notice include coughing, trouble breathing, and even coughing up blood. Over time, mesothelioma can spread to other parts of the body, called metastasis. This can lead to serious health problems that could even prove fatal.

For this reason, it is important for everyone to have an asbestos survey completed before they move into a building. If there is any asbestos present, it has to be removed before people reside in the structure.

Be Aware of the Dangers of Asbestos

This is only a brief overview of the numerous dangers that asbestos can present. It is important for everyone to make sure that any building they occupy is safe. This includes looking for asbestos having it removed, placing everyone’s safety first.