Asbestos Testing & Abatement
Asbestos Testing
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Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of developing:
- Asbestosis; is a scarring of the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe
- Mesothelioma; a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity
- Lung cancer; smoking can greatly increase this risk
(Source: Health Canada)
Our company can help you with the testing of suspicious material so that you know where in your house there may be asbestos containing building material.
Any home built before the 1990s may have building products that contain asbestos fibers
It is extremely important to conduct some tests prior to renovations, if your house was built before the 1990s. Asbestos was heavily used in Canada until 1980. Starting in 1981, the Canadian government introduced a number of regulations and measures to reduce the use of asbestos. These measures caused a sharp drop in the number of asbestos containing materials produced after 1981. It is still quite common to find asbestos in houses built after 1981. The use of asbestos in construction materials was not banned in Canada until 2018.
Asbestos fibers are not harmful unless they are released into the air. When they are released, the fibers break down into tiny particles. The particles become airborne, and we inhale them. Then they collect in the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation. Several health organizations have classified asbestos as a carcinogen, a cancer-causing substance.
These fibers can be found in thousands of products some of which are still manufactured today. Asbestos has been banned in the residential construction industry but before the 1990s it was found in building products such as:
- Heating duct and pipes insulation
- Attic insulation (Vermiculite)
- Plaster walls and ceilings
- Old drywall
- Popcorn ceiling
- Vinyl tiles
- Acoustic ceiling tiles
- Drywall joint compounds, adhesives etc.
