Syracuse, New York 12/17/2008 12:49:42 AM
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center Warns of Asbestos in Holiday Products
Many Older Items Could Contain Asbestos Fiber
While many people may be aware of the dangers of asbestos, some will be surprised to learn the great many products it was used in that could potentially present a hazard. Thousands of products were made with asbestos leading up to the late 1970s, when the majority of them were banned. However, many of these products still exist in homes and other buildings today.
The majority of asbestos products were industrial compounds. Asbestos was used in insulation, pipe coverings, and drywall. Asbestos was also used however, in many products that required a resistance to fire or heat.
Many of these products are ones that we use around holiday season, such as tree skirts, artificial trees/wreaths, and many other fire retardant products. Any product of this nature known to be manufactured prior to 1980 could potentially contain asbestos.
This is not to say however, that all asbestos products are dangerous. Most of those which are intact and stable are entirely safe so long as they are not cracker or loose. Asbestos is durable and is typically built into strong compounds which don't easily break. Those which are broken or cracked however, could release asbestos fibers if disturbed. Inhaled asbestos fibers have been linked to the rare cancer mesothelioma. There are few options for mesothelioma treatment so all potential hazards should be taken seriously.
For this reason, it is important to examine older holiday products each year to ensure that they are in good condition, not only for aesthetic purposes but also because of possible asbestos hazards.
The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center, long considered the web's leading resource of its kind, urges caution when dealing with all asbestos products. For a comprehensive list of all posisble asbestos products please visit our website at www.maacenter.org.
From all of us at the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center, have a safe and happy holiday season.
