5 important facts about asbestos

1. Canadian White Gold. Technically asbestos is a six minerals composed of soft fibers. It was discovered in Quebec in 1850. And 30 years later Canada started to export asbestos. But only in 1920 doctors started to observe healthy risks from asbestos due too many deaths of miners' workers. Now it's been called as toxic and dangerous material that should be banned from construction.

2. Exposure. Today some professionals could have an exposure from asbestos. Remediation/waste management, firefighters, construction workers, heavy industry, mining, shipbuilding are on top of the list who could get an exposure. Even professionals in auto shops should be very careful.

3. Health risks. Asbestos can cause some serious diseases: Mesothelioma, Asbestos related lung cancer, Asbestosis, Pleural thickening. The parts of asbestos so tiny you couldn't see it. When it is released into the air, it enters the surrounding environment. Even into lungs if a person breathes asbestos fibers in. And the latency period for asbestos diseases is up to 40 years. Of course harmful effects could depend on an age, immune system and many other factors but it's better to avoid any possible contact with those dangerous fibers.

4. Cleaning the house is possible. The most important thing you have to keep in your mind: don't try to remove any asbestos from your house by yourself. Call the professionals who use a special equipment and wear costumes to prevent spreading the harmful fibers around your place. They also know the safe way to dispose of dangerous garbage. It's not a cheap procedure but definitely necessary to save the health of your family.

5. Alternatives. Technology progress already has some alternatives to use instead of asbestos. Depending on your project you could use polyurethane foam, thermoset plastic flour, amorphous silica fabric, cellulose fiber, etc. Those new materials are safer and could be used for interior renovations.