Why and when is Asbestos dangerous?
Most of the time asbestos poses little risk to your health. When in good condition it poses no significant health risks, the danger arises if the material becomes damaged which can occur through scrapes and bumps that may be sustained by the building over the years or if damaged by cutting, drilling or ripping.
It is a risk if you breathe in asbestos fibres that have been released into the air. When you inhale large amounts of asbestos fibres, they can become lodged in your lungs and remain there. This can cause scarring and inflammation. Regular or long periods of exposure to high levels of asbestos in the air can be harmful to your health. It could increase your risk of getting a variety of diseases such as:
Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs)
Lung cancer
Mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer of the lining of the body cavity)
Smokers and people with pre-existing lung diseases have a greater risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, if exposed.
Diseases from asbestos exposure take many years to develop. On average, it can take 15 to 30 years for diseases to develop after exposure.
Who is most at risk of asbestos exposure?
You are only at risk of asbestos exposure if you breathe in fibres released in the air.
If the building was constructed before 2000, then it has the potential to have asbestos located within it. Therefore, it is important to understand where can you find asbestos in domestic and commercial properties.
Asbestos only poses a potential health risk when it is disturbed, fraying or crumbling, and when fibres are released in the air. Asbestos fibres that are enclosed behind walls, isolated in specific areas, bound tightly in an intact product, or kept away from the interior environment of a building pose little risk unless they are to be disturbed by refurbishment works.
When disturbed, asbestos releases airborne fibres which can kill. Individuals working in the building and maintenance trades e.g. builders, plumbers, electricians, cable installers are at greatest risk from asbestos. These people are most likely to work on a building without sufficient knowledge as to where asbestos might be and how to avoid it, the highest level of risk occurs if the appropriate safety measures are not followed.