Wollongong, a major industrial place with many ongoing physical settings, has been an important city in Australia. It has seen many cases of asbestos and why it can be dangerous. Asbestos exposure has no such safe levels; thus, you can only handle it through removal.
Handling any asbestos material or products can be dangerous; thus, having a professional is necessary. Undertaking Asbestos removal in Wollongong happens in various ways where the professional can take samples and then test them.
Please keep reading to know more about why it is so important and how it affects your health.
What is Asbestos and its Types?
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally and is composed of flexible fibres resistant to electricity, heat, and corrosion. These make the mineral hold an excellent quality and use, but on the other hand, it’s highly toxic because of these features.
Asbestos is used during construction as an insulator and added to paper, cement, cloth, and other material to make it stronger. But when the dust of asbestos is ingested or inhaled, it gets permanently trapped in the body.
The two types of asbestos are:
- Amphibole asbestos: These are fibres that are straight, jagged shaped
- Serpentine asbestos: These fibres are curly
How can You Identify Asbestos Materials that May need removal?
Asbestos is incorporated into numerous products like automotive parts, building materials, and consumer items. Mainly it is mixed into compounds and plasters used on ceilings and walls. Identifying these materials which can contain high amounts of asbestos needs professionals.
After taking a sample and testing them, experienced people can recommend further removal and safe disposal steps.
Asbestos Exposure Risks and Related Diseases
Research shows that asbestos exposure is related to several diseases, including cancers like ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Other diseases include:
- Pleural effusions and plaques
- Pleuritis
- Asbestosis
- COPD
- Diffuse pleural thickening
Asbestos fibres are easily airborne once inhaled. It collects in the body with every exposure. Thus it’s essential to take safety measures against it.
Process of Asbestos Removal in Wollongong
Asbestos abatement is the safe removal of asbestos from a place following all legal conditions. Asbestos Removal in Wollongong is done by EPA- licensed professionals who specialise in the respective work. Seeing the conditions of the asbestos material, the experts can recommend abatement or encapsulation.
In encapsulation, specialists coat the asbestos materials with a sealant that prevents the fibres from being airborne. The following process is taken when the damage is severe, or the material needs to be eradicated:
- turning off HVAC units and sealing vents to prevent asbestos fibres from circulating
- sealing off the working area with plastic sheets
- using wet cleaning tools and HEPA filters to clean the workspace
- placing all materials removed from the workplace inside safely marked and into leak-tight containers
Can Asbestos Be Recycled?
A study has shown that in some cases, asbestos may be recycled. It is done using high heat, converting the fibres into inert silicate glass, making it non-hazardous. There is still scope for developing technology and processes to recycle it, decrease costs, and prevent improper disposal.
Final Word
Asbestos removal should meet all the legal requirements and regulations; thus, you should contact a professional service with a license to undergo it. Before undergoing any renovation or demolition of an old building, get it tested.
Safe handling and removing asbestos can help you avoid exposure and related hazards.
