Asbestos has become notorious recently for causing health problems.  Some of these problems include mesothelioma and lung cancer.  Although there are now regulations in place against the use of asbestos in building materials, many homes that were built before 1980 have asbestos in the building materials used.  These materials may include linoleum floors, insulation, ceiling tiles, and many other building materials. Asbestos testing can help discover whether a home contains dangerous materials.

This doesn’t mean that homeowners should panic, however.  Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed, because of the nature of the product.  Asbestos is composed of tiny fibers, which become dangerous only when they break apart and become airborne.  This means that asbestos products aren’t an issue unless something causes them to become airborne.  Asbestos testing may risk setting some of these particles loose, actually making a home less safe.  While an old home may contain asbestos, there may be little danger as long as the home is in good repair and left undisturbed.

Damage or home repair may, however, pose a danger in a home that contains asbestos.  When a demolition or repair job crushes, breaks, or even blasts away some of the material that contains asbestos, these fibrous particles become airborne and can lodge in the lungs.  This is where asbestos becomes dangerous.  Because of the mobility of the particles, they become a health hazard, while asbestos products that aren’t exposed don’t usually pose a hazard.

Because asbestos fibers can’t be seen by the naked eye, asbestos testing is required in order to determine whether products contain asbestos.  Unless a product contains a label that indicates whether asbestos was used, it will have to be tested in order to determine whether there is asbestos present.  When doing home repairs, it is best to take precautions as though it has already been determined that asbestos is present.  Concerns about asbestos should be addressed through a professional testing service.

Asbestos testing isn’t necessary, however; for a home built before 1980, it can legally be assumed that asbestos is present in the building materials.  This means that, whether or not testing has been done, any job that will send building materials into the air should be treated carefully by professionals.  Even without testing, builders and remodeling companies can be expected to treat a job as though asbestos were present.  This may not be convenient, but if testing isn’t an option – or there’s just too much material to test – homeowners may wish to go ahead as though asbestos were present.