Ridding Your Older Home of Asbestos: Solutions for a Safer Living Space

Ask any young adult under age 30 about asbestos and they’ll probably be hard pressed to expound on the nature of this toxic mineral, perhaps recognizing it as a dangerous substance but not really knowing why or where they’d find it.

Asbestos – though it has never been totally banned in the U.S. – ceased to be included in many products around 1977 when the government issued strict guidelines as to its use. And because of those guidelines, many individuals – particularly the younger generation of homeowners – are pretty much unaware of its toxicity and unconcerned about its presence.

But while most people in this age group will go through life without worry of asbestos and its hazards, young homeowners certainly need to be aware of its presence. Often, young couples or families purchase older, more affordable starter homes in order to get their foot into the real estate market. More often than not, these older homes contain products that include asbestos, often attic insulation and other insulating products but also floor tiles, textured or “popcorn” ceilings, shingles, and various other items that were used in the construction industry for literally decades.

Old or damaged asbestos can present a health hazard to those inside the home, especially when its sharp, thin fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Inhalation of any amount of asbestos, no matter how small, can result in future pulmonary problems, including the development of an aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma.

That’s why home inspections are so important. An experienced home inspector knows what asbestos looks like and where to find it. He/she can alert the homeowner as to potential asbestos dangers and recommend what steps should be taken to remedy them, which might include removal, encapsulation, or simply leaving the asbestos alone but keeping a watchful eye on it for any signs of deterioration in the future.

Once inspections and any abatement is complete, the new homeowner can replace asbestos-containing products with modern variations that are so much safer for everyone living inside the house, including pets. For example, a number of newer and greener options are available to homeowners who desire to replace their insulation with environmentally-friendly products that are both safe and energy efficient. Some of those options include:

• Cellulose – Made from finely shredded newsprint, this popular green insulation contains 85 percent recycled content. US GreenFiber, a manufacturer of eco-friendly building products such as cellulose insulation, reports that cellulose is used in approximately 15 percent of new green building construction, and notes that it reduces heating and air conditioning bills by up to 20 percent.

• Recycled Cotton – Generally made from denim treated with a chemical that makes it heat-, fire-, and mold-resistant, recycled cotton insulation produces no off gases and need not carry any warning labels because it’s totally non-toxic.

• Spray Polyurethane Foams (SPF) – Easy to install and great for families with allergies, SPFs emit no harmful off-gases and produce a very tight seal that allows little room for dust or mold. Some are better than others – look for the ones that do not contain PBDEs (polybrominated dephenyl ethers), which have proven to be toxic to the developing brains of animals and may cause nervous system disorders in humans as well. Experts say SPFs reduce heating bills by up to 35 percent.

For additional information about the long-term health consequences of asbestos exposure, please visit Mesothelioma.com.