The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center Urges Caution When Preparing Your Home For The Winter Months

Prior to the advent of asbestos usage regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency in the early 1980s, asbestos was widely used due to its insulating capabilities. Found most often in attic insulation, asbestos was also used to develop floor and ceiling tiles, roofing tiles, drywall, acoustical plaster and even some brands of duct tape. Over 35 million U.S. residences currently harbor asbestos-containing materials. When preparing your home for winter, it is crucial that you are aware of the risks associated with asbestos and how to protect not only yourself, but your family as well.

One of the first steps many homeowners will take this year will be hiring a heating expert to inspect their heating unit. Many homes have boilers that may be lined with asbestos insulation, and if this is the case, it is imperative that you consult with a licensed asbestos abatement technician and have the harmful insulation removed. Many water tanks, boilers and furnaces may also be lined with asbestos insulation as well. It is advisable to have all asbestos removed from your home in a timely manner in an effort to protect the health of your family. Cost-effective and energy saving insulation alternatives are available, and an asbestos abatement technician can suggest products that will best suit your home.

In addition to insulation, asbestos may also be found in older floor and ceiling tiles. When cleaning and preparing your home for winter, it may be beneficial to have these products inspected for asbestos and replaced if an expert determines that they may be harmful to your health. Some chimney flues are also lined with asbestos, and when cleaning and repairing your chimney prior to the cold winter months it is a wise idea to have any asbestos removed and replaced with a safe alternative.

Why is asbestos such a dangerous material? If damaged, asbestos-containing products can release tiny asbestos fibers into the air in your home, putting you and your family at risk of inhalation. If inhaled, the fibers can cling to the lining of the lungs for decades before an individual may begin to suffer from malignant mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that has no cure and a survival rate of 1%. It is always fatal, but completely avoidable, and it is important that homeowners take the appropriate steps to prevent exposure in their homes.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is the web’s foremost resource for information related to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma cancer, mesothelioma treatment, and more. Please visit www.maacenter.org for further information.