What is asbestos and why is it so dangerous?

It’s common knowledge that asbestos is bad, and that it might be found in old buildings. Yet unless you work in the industry, it’s also common not to know much more than the basics. So let’s take a closer look at what is asbestos exactly, and why it’s so dangerous for humans.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs in the world naturally. This mineral consists of tiny fibres, and comes from metamorphic rocks.

There are large, naturally occurring deposits across the western United States, and around the mountains of North and South Carolina. That’s why so much of New Zealand’s was imported. It can still be naturally found in the U.S., but it’s still in Australia, Russia, South America, Canada, and in China.

These fibres are incredible in that they are extremely strong and durable. They are highly resistant to chemicals, wear, heat, and fibre, which is why they were so commonly used across everything from oven mitts to ceiling materials throughout the mid-1900s.

There are six types of asbestos in all, which each offer their own strengths and that were used across various products in New Zealand.

Unfortunately, by the time it is used in common household products, it doesn’t have a particular look, so it’s unlikely you could simply spot it. It requires expert asbestos testing to determine if it is present, and it is strongly recommended not to DIY your tests due to the inherent danger.

Why is this mineral dangerous?

Asbestos is highly dangerous – and now banned – because it has been found to be a carcinogen (cancer-causing). This is true for all forms of the mineral, and is especially scary as there is no ‘safe’ level.

It affects humans because it is a very fine fibre, and when this fibre breaks up and gets into the air, we breathe it in. This can result in a range of serious illnesses, such as scarring of the lung tissue (asbestosis), tumours and cancers that develop in the lungs or intestine (mesothelioma), thickening of the lung membranes (pleural plaques), and various cancers.

If the fibres remain intact in a material such as a ceiling tile, it can be considered ‘safe’ if it is in good condition and not likely to deteriorate. However if you know you have it on your property and wish to do renovations, you will need an expert on hand to either remove or manage it safely so as not to endanger construction workers or those living on the property.

While a single low exposure is not considered high risk, you are considered to be more at risk with every additional exposure. That’s why it’s so important to have your property tested and any on site removed or contained to ensure there is no risk to your health, or the health and wellbeing of your family and friends.

Professional asbestos removal

New Zealand homes built prior to 1980 often have asbestos present, and those built up to the year 2000 also sometimes used it during construction.

With so much older housing stock around the country, this makes asbestos a prevalent and serious problem for Kiwis. For peace of mind, you can have your property tested for asbestos, and get expert help to contain any materials found, or have them completely removed.

PRO Environmental Services offers an efficient and safe asbestos removal service across the Wellington region, in Kapiti and the Wairarapa. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote for asbestos removal at your property.