In this day and age, most people are aware of how prolonged asbestos exposure can adversely affect the health of humans. When inhaled, asbestos in San Francisco can wreak havoc on the lungs and cause cancer, among other things. If you live in a home with asbestos in San Francisco , you should hire a licensed and experienced professional to perform an asbestos test, and then to get rid of it. Though it may end up being a costly project, having all of the asbestos removed from your home is well worth the money.

What Asbestos Is
Asbestos is an umbrella term used to classify any member of a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that form long, ultra thin, and fibrous crystals. Since these minerals are invulnerable to high temperatures and are fire-resistant, they were popularly used as construction materials for homes and offices.

Asbestos and Cancer
Since asbestos is a known carcinogen, it fell out of favor in the late 1970s. Because its fibrous crystals are microscopic and can become airborne, asbestos can be easily breathed in, and can cause a lung and abdominal cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos can also be responsible for other cancers such as lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, ovarian cancer, and testicular cancer. Once inside the body, asbestos crystals are often found trapped in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Asbestos fibers can cause a lot of damage to human tissues, and this damage is the precursor to mesothelioma and other cancers.

Asbestos Exposure
Most people who develop mesothelioma or asbestos-related cancer had industrial jobs, and were exposed to asbestos in their workplace—that is, construction sites, power plants, chemical plants, shipyards, auto body shops, old schoolhouses, and boiler rooms.

Other Diseases Caused by Asbestos
Prolonged and repeated asbestos exposure may cause other diseases. One such disease is an inflammatory lung condition called asbestosis—symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and lung damage. Asbestos can also cause benign growths such as pleural plaques and pleural effusions.

If an environmental test reveals that your home or business contains asbestos, lead, or mold, you will need to hire licensed abatement or remediation professionals to remove the threat. But after the cleanup service is complete, it’s important to get one more round of environmental testing to ensure that the remediation or abatement contractor was successful and that the threat was completely eliminated from your home or business. If post-cleanup asbestos testing , mold testing, or lead testing reveals that the contractor was unsuccessful, you will have more leverage in requesting that the contractor come back and retreat the affected area.

In San Francisco, Safe Air Fast is the environmental testing company you can count on for post-cleanup clearance testing. Safe Air Fast provides asbestos, lead, and mold testing services for homeowners and businesses throughout the Bay Area. Call (916) 459-1069 to schedule environmental testing with Safe Air Fast of San Francisco today.

If you own an older home, then you are probably aware of the fact that it may contain asbestos. You are also likely aware of the health-related issues that you will have if you are exposed to asbestos for a prolonged period of time. It’s why you should have asbestos testing done on your home. But what else do you know about asbestos? Check out some of the other things all homeowners should know about asbestos exposure near San Francisco.

You Cannot See Asbestos
Some homeowners are under the assumption that they can see asbestos if it exists in their homes. This is simply not true. The only way that you can detect asbestos is through asbestos testing. Asbestos is a mineral fiber, but the fiber is so tiny that people cannot see it. So rather than try and guess whether or not you may have asbestos in your home, you should hire a certified company to come in and do an asbestos test if you suspect that asbestos might be located in your house.

There Is No Safe Level of Asbestos
The scary thing about asbestos is that you can be negatively affected by breathing in just a small amount of it. Most often, homeowners will come into contact with asbestos during home renovation projects. By sawing or drilling into a product made with asbestos, you can disturb it and send asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers will create health problems if they find their way into your lungs.

Asbestos Can Be Found in Many Parts of the Home
You might think that asbestos is only found in basements or in crawlspaces and that you won’t be exposed to it if you don’t spend much time in them. However, everything from roofing shingles to textured paint to air duct lining can contain asbestos. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have your home tested for asbestos anytime you take on a project that will involve you working on your house. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to asbestos.

Asbestos symptoms can be dangerous and deadly, and asbestos testing in San Francisco may be necessary to limit your risk of asbestos exposure. This hazardous material can be found in many different places, such as auto parts, cement, tiles, and textiles that were manufactured prior to 1980. The most common site of asbestos exposure is in homes, apartment buildings, and businesses that were built before 1980.

Watch this video to learn more about how and where asbestos exposure is most likely to occur. Anyone who lives, works, or frequently visits a building that contains asbestos is at risk for asbestos exposure and asbestos symptoms.

If you have asbestos in your home, you should seriously consider removing it because of the dangers associated with exposure. You should also take the time to educate yourself more about asbestos so that you can make an informed decision about it. It’s essential to have asbestos testing in San Francisco done to determine whether immediate asbestos removal is necessary. Here are some common myths and facts about asbestos.

Myth: Companies that used asbestos products many years ago were unaware of the dangers associated with them.
Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. While there were some companies that didn’t know how harmful asbestos could be at one time, there were also many industry leaders that reportedly knew about the health risks associated with asbestos and tried to downplay them.

Myth: The only health risk associated with asbestos is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is the disease that most people associate with asbestos exposure, however, lung cancer, asbestosis, and COPD are some of the other diseases that have been proven to plague those who have come into regular contact with asbestos. These diseases can take time to develop and symptoms from them may not show up for years after asbestos exposure.

Myth: Asbestos is no longer used to manufacture items in the United States.
The U.S. government stepped in back in the late 1980s and banned the use of asbestos in building materials and many other products. Asbestos is still used in some products , though, including automobile components, clothing, and even some construction materials.

Myth: Asbestos should be removed from homes as soon as it is detected.
If you have an asbestos test done and it reveals that you have asbestos located inside of your home, you should definitely consider removing it to avoid asbestos exposure and the health risks that come along with it. But asbestos is only dangerous to you when the materials that contain it are damaged. Therefore, you should speak with a company that can remove asbestos to see what the best course of action is and how quickly you will need to get rid of it.

If you ever experience asbestos exposure , it could be very hazardous for your health and cause serious problems for you down the line. Asbestos fibers that were once used to manufacture everything from drywall to ceiling tiles can enter your lungs if they are disturbed. Watch this video to find out the things you need to know about asbestos exposure and the dangers poses by asbestos.

Before you do any work in your home or agree to complete a project in someone else’s home or business, you should have an asbestos test done. The test will tell you whether or not asbestos is present. If it is, you should have it removed by a professional to ensure that asbestos exposure does not take place. Look out for asbestos symptoms if you feel you may have come into contact with it. Asbestos testing companies in San Francisco can recommend the appropriate remediation steps if asbestos is found inside your home.

The idea of being exposed to asbestos in your own home can be very scary, especially if you don’t know anything about it. If you suspect asbestos exposure, you should familiarize yourself with asbestos so that you know what it is and how it might affect you. You should also have asbestos testing in San Francisco done to confirm whether or not asbestos is present in your home or business. Here are the answers to some common questions about asbestos.

What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral that can be broken down into durable fibers that are then woven into larger fabrics and used to create many things. Traditionally, asbestos has been used in many building materials because it is fire- and heat-resistant and does not conduct electricity well.

What are some of the health risks associated with asbestos?
While asbestos is great for building, it is also a serious health hazard. If products that were made using asbestos are disturbed, asbestos fibers can be freed into the air and end up in your lungs. They can remain there for a long period of time and cause scarring, inflammation, breathing issues, and even cancer. Asbestos is a carcinogen recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and can be extremely dangerous.

What are the symptoms of asbestos exposure?
If you believe you experienced asbestos exposure, there are a number of asbestos symptoms that you should look out for. For example, shortness of breath, blood coughed up from the lungs, tightening of the chest, sudden weight loss, swelling of the face, and fatigue are all signs of asbestos-related health issues and should be treated immediately.

What is the best way to remove asbestos?
Homeowners should never attempt to remove asbestos on their own. A home must be treated properly in order to remove asbestos without disturbing it. Without professional help, you could run the risk of disturbing the asbestos in your home and breathing it in, which could lead to very serious complications.

Every home has bacteria, and many types of bacteria can even be good for you and your family. However, some bacteria can be hazardous to your health. Fortunately, companies that specialize in mold and asbestos testing in San Francisco often can also test for harmful bacteria in your home. To learn about bacteria testing, keep reading.

Like asbestos testing, getting a bacteria test performed in your home can help to protect your family from health hazards. There are generally two types of assessments that should be made. The first is a preliminary bacteria/sewage assessment. This assessment will check to see if sewage indicator bacteria are present in your home. The other assessment is a follow-up assessment to determine that the remediation efforts were successful. This assessment will take surface samples to make sure there are no sewage indicator bacteria present. If the first assessment was done correctly, your home will be cleared.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber, and if it becomes damaged, it can be hazardous to you and your family. Unfortunately, asbestos can be found in many older homes across America. Working with a company that can do asbestos testing in San Francisco will be able to tell you if asbestos is in your house. If you are looking to learn more about asbestos and its potential dangers, read on.

Where Can Asbestos Be Found?
Oftentimes, one can find asbestos in roofing shingles or installation of older homes. If your home was built prior to 1977, you may find that asbestos exists in textured paints, often found on the ceiling. As wonderful as it is to have an old wood stove in your home, be aware that the walls and floor surrounding it may have been protected with asbestos paper. Also, you should look for asbestos around your hot water pipes, as they may be coated with an asbestos tape.

How is Asbestos Hazardous to Your Health?
Some health concerns related to asbestos are worse than others, but all asbestos symptoms should be taken seriously. Asbestos has been linked to lung cancer when high amounts of asbestos fibers are inhaled. If you smoke and breathe in vast amounts of asbestos over time, your chances of lung cancer increase. Usually, symptoms of lung cancer from asbestos will not occur for 20-30 years after the exposure.

How Do You to Detect Asbestos in Your Home?
The safest way to detect if asbestos is in your home is to hire a company in your area that specializes in asbestos testing. If there is damaged asbestos in your home, it is best to contact a company to conduct the testing as soon as possible.

How to Stop Asbestos Exposure in Your Home?
If your test results show that damaged asbestos is in your home, it is best to repair the damaged materials. This can be done by covering or sealing the damaged areas. However, in some cases removal may be necessary to keep you and your family healthy.