Information on Asbestos Siding
From the 1920s until the late 1960s, contractors commonly used asbestos siding in the construction of homes. In the late 1970s the use of the material in construction was banned after evidence surfaced that the substance can cause serious medical conditions. You may still find asbestos siding on homes built before the ban. If you have a home that was built before 1978, have a contractor inspect it to tell if it has asbestos siding. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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Asbestos siding in the construction of homes reached popularity because of its resistance to heat and strength and durability. The substance comes from fibers that naturally occur in rocks and soil and may be made from magnesium or silicon. The companies that made it mixed it with Portland cement and formed siding, which they then used to insulate and fireproof homes and other buildings. Contractors used asbestos in most homes constructed before the 1970s.
History
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The first manufacture of asbestos construction products In the United States dates back as far as 1905. In 1907, an Austrian engineer named Ludwid Hatschek invented a machine that produced sheets of asbestos. Manufacturers used this technique to produce sheets of asbestos siding that were preferred because they were lightweight, resistant to fire, rot and termites, and easy to clean and maintain. In 1924, the British Medical Journal published a case about the first death caused by asbestosis, scarring of the tissues of the lungs. In 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed a ban on asbestos siding and other construction products made from asbestos.
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Dangers
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Exposure to asbestos can cause several types of cancer but the most prevalent are cancer of the lungs or the membranes lining the chest and abdomen. An individual who breathes in the particles of asbestos may also suffer from nonmalignant scarring of the membranes of the lungs and chest or lung tissue. Though asbestos siding can lead to these diseases, Environmental Health and Safety Online indicates that siding made with asbestos does not form a health risk if it are in good condition and you leave it undisturbed.
Precautions
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If you own a house with asbestos siding that appears to be chipped, cracking or broken, consider having it replaced. Asbestos removal poses a potential danger and you should take it seriously. The EPA regulates the disposal and removal of asbestos siding on a federal level. Check with your local health department to see if you may remove and replace your own asbestos siding, or if you need to hire a contractor licensed in asbestos removal to do so. If you do your own, remember that the threat from asbestos becomes real once the product is sawed, drilled or cut and releases fibers that may invade your air passages.
Considerations
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If you decide to have you asbestos siding removed by a contractor, check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if the firm has received safety violations or complaints. The regional EPA office or Occupational Safety and Health Administration office can tell you about the regulation for asbestos siding removal. As the contractor works, be sure that he does not break the siding in to small pieces or leave dust and debris that may contain the harmful asbestos fibers.
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