In order to understand the dangers of asbestos you have to first know what asbestos is. Asbestos is the general name for a group of minerals that are organic and composed of microscopic fibres. These fibres can be separated into thin and durable threads. It can be woven into fabric or put into something like a floor tile. It is fireproof, lightweight, very strong, and cannot conduct electricity. This is why asbestos has been used in different things like floor tiles and other construction materials. Floor tiles that were used from about the 1920s to the 1960s nearly always contained asbestos for these reasons. This was considered one of the better materials to use for construction and some floor tiles could be more than half asbestos. However, there are many dangers that go along with asbestos floor tiles and if you have them in your home you need to know what these dangers are. 1. If asbestos becomes airborne it can be dangerous If you inhale asbestos dust you can get lung cancer or mesothelioma. This is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen. Asbestos was outlawed for use in Canada in the mid-1990s. So if your home was built before 1995, it’s quite likely that there is asbestos in the building materials. 2. Floor tiles in the home are dangerous if broken If you live in a home that has floor tiles that are made with asbestos, then you do run some risks. These tiles are encapsulated so it is not as risky as if you had other materials in your home that contain asbestos. However, if one of tiles breaks, then you could inhale the dust. These tiles are not easy to remove and the glue that holds them down can also contain asbestos. This means that if you try to remove these tiles you are at risk of breathing in the harmful asbestos. 3. Cracked tiles could make it risky If you have a floor tile in your home that is cracked and it contains asbestos, then you could be at risk of breathing it in. This is not something you want to go through or put your family through. If you even think you have asbestos floor tiles, then you need to contact a professional company that can do the proper asbestos removal for you. What should you do if you discover your home has asbestos floor tiles? When it comes to asbestos removal you need to hire a professional for this task. Why would you want to risk your health when there are professional companies that remove asbestos on a regular basis? This is a very dangerous mineral and you need to make sure you are not exposed to air that has asbestos in it. You will want to have a professional come and do the proper asbestos testing and if you do have asbestos let a professional remove the asbestos from your home for you.
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