Lung cancer risks
as they relate to asbestos in the home
Lung Cancer
Asbestos General Toxicity
Lung cancer is a known risk when people are exposed to
asbestos. Exposure to asbestos frequantly occurs within the home
from old insulation on heating pipes and boilers. Just because
something comes from the ground (like asbestos) you should not assume it
is safe.
Asbestos has been known to cause lung cancer when fibers stick inside
the lungs. Fibers in the lungs cause irritation and allow cancers
to grow. Lung cancer takes many years to develop and it is fatal many
times.
In New Jersey home inspector regulations do not require home inspectors
to point out environmental hazards including those that may cause lung cancer.
Prudent home inspectors do look to find asbestos and if material that
may contain asbestos is found they alert the home buyer to the potential
for lung cancer.
Occupational exposure is usually more acute than residential exposure.
Although small children spend little time in the work
place they spend lots of time at home and have long lives ahead of them
to allow lung cancer to develop. Exposure to even to low levels of asbestos should be a
concern.
Although excluded from our contract we tell frequantly tell clients insulation on the boiler and/or distribution piping is similar in appearance to materials known to contain asbestos.
We can not say the insulation is asbestos during a visual
inspection. We can say there is a very high probability the material is
asbestos because it is simply not possible to visually determine if the material is asbestos with absolute certainty, laboratory analysis is necessary.
Since exposure to asbestos is a lung cancer risk, consultation with a licensed asbestos contractor is necessary prior to expiration of your inspection contingency to determine the proper course of action and to obtain an opinion as the necessity of air or bulk samples.
Bulk samples are samples of the actual insulation, air samples are
samples of the air in the home. Due to the age of construction, there may be other materials within the home that contain asbestos but are not identified by this inspection report. Asbestos fibers that get into the air represent a health hazard.
If you suspect it the insulation might contain
asbestos and place you at risk for lung cancer the
next logical step is to order a lab test called
a bulk sample where a section of insulation is brought
back to the lab. If the sample is positive
for asbestos air testing should be ordered to
determine what an occupants exposure level is.
It is important not to disturb asbestos or allow contacts such
as plumbers to disturb it during renovations or
repairs either. Asbestos removal should be performed by trained
people using all the required protective
gear. Amateur asbestos removal frequantly
results in higher levels of asbestos than was ever in the air
before. If an owner represents the
asbestos was properly removed contact the municipal health and building
departments to be sure the necessary and required permits were obtained.
Improperly removed asbestos leaves fibers floating around in the air
just about forever. Take care and hire a professional!
