Common Asbestos Products in the Home

I intend to discuss the different types of asbestos products and where they may be found in residential properties. It should be considered that in the UK, housing stock still has a large amount of asbestos products present throughout. From textured coatings to cement boiler flues to floor tiles. The HSE recently suggested over 2.4 million homes contained some asbestos products.

On the legal and duty of care issues, it should be pointed out that until proved otherwise all suspect materials should be considered to be asbestos. When any works to a building or part thereof, are to be carried out, a refurbishment or demolition survey is a legal requirement. This survey should identify all asbestos containing materials present and recommend any further action to be taken.

Asbestos Insulation Board.
This material was mainly used in fire protection, such as in heater cupboards, but is also commonly found in ceiling tiles, partition walls and fireproof panels for fire doors. It can be difficult to spot this type of asbestos as it can look very much like "ordinary" ceiling tiles and partitioning or plasterboard. This is also a highly dangerous material as when broken or disturbed it can easily release fibres. The HSE will allow only very minor works to be carried out to this material. But it is recommended that only license contractors work with this material.

Loose fill asbestos insulation.
This material was used to insulate in between cavity walls, floorboards and lofts. This material is usually pure asbestos and maybe grey or whitish in colour. It is a fluffy type of material. A large volume of fibres can be released when disturbed and work on this material is by licensed contractors only.

Asbestos cement products.
This material was used in anything from roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes. Boiler flues and wall cladding. The asbestos has been mixed with cement which does help to prevent dispersal of fibres. A common use was as garage roofs. You do not need a licensed asbestos contractor to work with asbestos cement products as long as you do not exceed control limits. A risk assessment will highlight if the works are likely to exceed the control limits.

Textured coatings.
This is usually a decorative paint or plaster finish and can be commonly know as "Artex". More often than not these materials will also have been painted over. The danger can be limited as the material is contained but easy release is achieved if sanded down. This must be avoided. Textured coatings have in the past also been applied over the top of asbestos insulation board. Therefore care must still be taken when dealing with this material. You do not need to be a licensed asbestos contractor to work with these materials. You will however need to erect a two stage airlock, and use negative pressure unit as well as the correct PPE.

Floor tiles, toilet cisterns and textiles.
Vinyl floor tiles can have an asbestos content and can be found under carpet. Composite asbestos products have included toilet cisterns and seats, window sills and bath panels. For the tiles and composite products it may be a question of how long they have been in situ as to whether they contain asbestos. Asbestos textiles can be found behind older fuse boxes.

Asbestos spray coatings.
This material is found on the underside of ceilings and floors, as fire protection to steelwork and concrete. Considered as one of the most dangerous of the asbestos materials due to the high volume of fibres that can be released when disturbed. Only licensed asbestos contractors may work with this product.

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Five common symptoms of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, which affects people, come with asbestos in contact. The time between asbestos exposure and the onset of mesothelioma is typically very long. Some people develop mesothelioma symptoms until 40 years or more after exposure to asbestos not. This makes it very difficult to diagnose Mesothelioma and asbestosis (another condition caused by asbestos exposure).

Another factor that complicates the diagnosis of mesothelioma is the variety of types of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the internal organs. So, it can affect the lining of the lung, stomach, to spread the heart and testis, as well as the surrounding tissue. The symptoms vary depending on the exact mesothelioma can cancer. The following is a list of five common mesothelioma symptoms.

1. Pain in the chest and abdomen

Mesothelioma Cancer produce pain in different parts of the body. The pain is more, since the cancer progress. Pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lung) often causes pain in the chest. It also may patient difficulty breathing. The shortness of breath may the cancer progress and causes increasing pleural effusion (retention of fluid in the lining of the lung). Persistent abdominal pain may be a sign of peritoneal mesothelioma (cancer in the lining of the stomach).

2. Cough

Many patients with pleural mesothelioma experience persistent, dry cough. As the cancer spreads, it could cough blood. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

3. Unexplained weight loss

Although most people welcome the weight loss as a positive event, potentially large and unexplained weight loss a sign of trouble. Such sudden weight loss may be that is a sign that the body under extreme pressure from cancer cells produce and has internal fat reserves as a source of energy, to combat the disease.

4. Persistent fatigue

Fatigue is usually a normal physical response to physical and mental exhaustion. However, if you tired, at any time without apparent reason believe, a sign of cancer may be. You should see your doctor if you feel tired, so how you after eight or nine hours of sleep to wake up.

5. Night sweats or fever

Because mesothelioma spread, it produces an increasing number of cancer cells that start interfere with basic physiological functions. As a result internal tissue could begin, swell, and various body cavities can be filled with liquid. The body reacts to these events by making night sweats that are often equipped with low grade fever. If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor for a thorough medical evaluation.

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor will probably recommend aggressive therapies slow down the spread of cancer and kill cancer cells. Unfortunately remains the life expectancy of mesothelioma with the most modern cancer treatments, less than a year. But to develop new treatments, mesothelioma patients hope remission and a life longer, more satisfying offers.

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