Asbestos is found as a naturally occurring substance that is well known for its insulation properties. Before the harmful effects of asbestos were discovered, it was commonly used in various construction materials. Asbestos was often used in roofing, guttering, flexible building boards, cement sheeting, insulation, and other products such as clutches, brakes, and gaskets.

Asbestos primarily enters the body when breathed in. Therefore, asbestos-containing material is harmful only when fibers are released in the air that can be inhaled. If the asbestos is contained within a stable material, or if it’s in good condition, it poses little risk. However, if asbestos is friable — i.e., it can be easily crumbled by hand and released as fibers into the air — then it poses a serious health risk.

When the asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can pass deep into the lungs, causing a series of health problems. In this post, we’re going to discuss some of the health hazards that you should be mindful of when removing asbestos from your home in Long Grove, Illinois:

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is most prominent in people who are involved in the milling, mining, and manufacturing of asbestos or products that contain asbestos. Some of the most common symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness, persistent chest pains, shortness of breath, anemia, and more.

If a person is also exposed to another carcinogen, such as smoking, then there are even higher chances of developing lung cancer. According to a study, it is found that people who have been exposed to asbestos and are regular smokers are 90x more likely to develop lung cancer than people who don’t smoke and have not been exposed to asbestos.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease that is non-cancerous but can still become chronic. Asbestos fibers, when inhaled, tend to scar the lung tissues and cause respiratory problems. A person with asbestosis will often show symptoms of shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs. Asbestosis, in advanced cases, may cause cardiac failure.

Asbestosis is generally disabling and fatal, and there is no effective treatment for it. There is a significant risk for those who work in demolishing buildings, or those who do renovation work in buildings that contains asbestos. However, there is a very low risk of asbestosis for those who do not work with it.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is another form of cancer that often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, and chest. More than 200 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year, with mostly all of them being directly linked to asbestos exposure. According to statistics, nearly 10% of all workers involved in the manufacture of asbestos-containing gas masks and 2% of all miners and textile workers will develop mesothelioma at some point.

People who have worked in factories, shipyards, asbestos mines, and asbestos mills, as well as people who used to install and manufacture asbestos, have an increased risk of mesothelioma. Additionally, people who have lived with asbestos workers, near asbestos product factories, or near asbestos mining areas also have an increased risk of mesothelioma.

Looking for an Asbestos Testing and Removal Company in Long Grove, Illinois?

Are you looking to have your home or building in Long Grove, Illinois inspected for asbestos? Need to have asbestos tested or removed from your Long Grove property? If so, then Axis Response Group is the company to call. We have a team of licensed asbestos testing and removal specialists who can help make your space safe and asbestos-free. Contact us today for a free quote!