Asbestos exposure continues to this day even in our homes but the worst thing is that it is unknown by majority of the people. This exposure may lead to deadly and incurable disease called mesothelioma. The worst fact about this disease lies in its latency period which may extend up to decades. Exposures of today might show themselves in 2050.
The most important source of asbestos exposure is renovation of old homes; one should pay attention while doing any renovation job specially while doing the piping or boiling operation. The most common and the most dangerous source of asbestos in United States is drywall board and the demolition of the drywall board can be one of the major causes for asbestos exposure.
Asbestos was used from 1960 to 70s in huge scale for walls and ceilings constructed in homes and offices and also for seams or joints between wall board panels. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in spackle and joint compound. According to CPSC “inhalable asbestos in the household from consumer patching compounds…presents a great risk due to the presence in the household of persons, such as children, who may be particularly vulnerable to carcinogens.”After the ban the companies who produced spackle sold of their products and no care was taken for its safe dumping.
The amount of asbestos in homes built with drywall is very large and had been used throughout United States for two decades. The demolition or alteration of wall release asbestos fibers and contaminates the home and workplace and this contamination may lead to many asbestos related diseases in the coming future. It is advised to consult an asbestos expert before the demolition or renovation of homes that have been built before 1980. If you want to purchase any home just inquire about the year in which that home was made and if the home is made before 1980, inquire about the renovation and demolition history of the home and if the answer is yes then get it checked by any asbestos expert.