When renovating older homes or buildings, renovators, contractors or trades should always be on the look out for asbestos, as it can be a silent killer if  disturbed.  If you find materials you suspect might be asbestos, stop work right away, as your health and everyone else’s around you is at stake.

Bring in experts who deal with these kinds of issues all the time. We recommend contractors acquaint themselves in advance on the different applications that asbestos was used for in older homes & buildings. It’s all about educating yourself.

Brian Turner, a toxic substance safety advocate, says:

“The reason asbestos is so dangerous is because the powder is so fine and barely visible.  This means that you could have asbestos in your hair or on your clothing when doing something as simple as sanding down a wall in an older home.  The asbestos that is in your hair or on your clothes can also be transferred to your loved ones when they do laundry or are generally around you.  Asbestos exposure not only affects you, but it can also affect everyone who is around you and comes into contact with your body or clothing.”

Brian goes on to say:  “The problem with asbestos is that it can cause a rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be fatal because it does not show itself until much later in life and only when it is in its later stage.”     

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