Understanding the Health Hazards of Asbestos
Awareness of the materials that may contain asbestos can be the first step to ensuring the safety of yourself and others. Despite the decreased production in the 1980s of items with asbestos-containing material, it may still be present in buildings constructed before the 1990s. These items range from floor tiles to siding materials, plaster, paint, and insulation.
When disturbed, asbestos can cause harmful health concerns that might not appear right away but can be severely damaging over time. Inhaling items containing asbestos can result in serious diseases, including the following:
- Asbestosis. This chronic lung disease scars the lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult.
- Mesothelioma. This rare cancer can appear in the outer tissues of your chest or abdomen lining.
- Lung cancer. Symptoms might include shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Smoking can increase the risk of this kind of cancer caused by asbestos.
Other Building Materials We Can Remove
In addition to asbestos, other materials have been tested on and revealed to be dangerous for people’s health. To keep your home or facility within proper code and ensure the safety of guests, we offer the removal of other harmful materials, such as lead paint.
Lead Removal
Most often, lead is found in paint used in the mid-20th century, both on the interior and exterior of buildings. The use of this material only ceased in the early 1990s, so it’s possible that it could be present in your home or facility, depending on when it was built.
Similar to asbestos, lead paint is increasingly dangerous when disturbed. If lead paint is present and chipping or flaking, it must be removed. Various levels of prolonged exposure may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage.
While it might seem straightforward to remove on your own, this process should only be done by professionals. The dust and residue that removal can create are an increased hazard if not handled properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does home insurance cover asbestos removal?
In most cases, your insurance will not cover this type of removal. Often, it is referred to as pollutant coverage, which many companies avoid including in their policies.
How long does it take to remove the asbestos from a popcorn ceiling?
An asbestos removal timeline depends on the extent of the issue. There are several initial and post-elimination steps in addition to the required work. As a benchmark, it can take an estimated 20 hours to complete a 500 sq. ft. space.
How much does asbestos removal cost?
The total cost can only be known once a full inspection is conducted to determine the items containing asbestos. Once testing is complete, an estimate can be presented based on the information gathered.
About Us
Inflector Puts People First
Inflector offers intelligent solutions and dependable support to our clients from end to end. We ensure that our clients, communities and our team are safe from the risks associated with the presence of hazardous materials. Our commitment to developing innovative ways to better serve our clients with each job we take on is second to none.
Why Inflector?
Our Process Makes all the Difference
We have developed and refined our abatement processes over the years to ensure our clients receive a seamless and stress-free experience every time. Inflector is known to execute the most effective and efficient abatement strategies possible in compliance with all federal, provincial and municipal regulations.
The Inflector Way
We’ve built a culture at Inflector that is centred around developing our team members into creative problem-solvers. We are proud to be one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies 2020 and to have earned a spot on the Growth List ranking of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies.
We are Industry Leaders
Each project is unique, having its own complexities and obstacles to overcome, which is why we know how to embrace the challenges of the job that can change without warning. Our dynamic team works hard to develop innovative solutions for each and every job we are awarded. Since our inception, Inflector has established key strategic industry partnerships, elevating our services to ensure our clients receive unparalleled value for our work.
The Inflector Family is Here to Help.