In 2004, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) launched Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW). Between April 1st and 7th, GAAW unifies people affected and others who are at risk of asbestos exposure. The goal of this event is to advocate for prevention through education and awareness to communities worldwide. 

Generally, GAAW seeks to enforce a full ban from mining and manufacturing this toxin. They also aspire to reinforce the existing restrictions. These laws protect from asbestos exposure hazards. While most new asbestos production comes from occupational industries, homeowners are a vulnerable group. 

Where is Asbestos Found in Your Home? 

Homes built prior to the 1980s may contain asbestos in a range of building materials: 

• Vermiculite insulation 

• Door gaskets 

• Oil and coal furnaces 

• Fuse boxes 

• Areas around wood burning stoves 

• Window putty 

This fiber was popular for protecting electrical products and soundproofing. It also serves as a heat barrier. Overtime, regulations improved the levels of asbestos and your risk of exposure. Although, homeowners who live in a fixer-upper or out-of-date home will need to watch out for the ways in which they could disturb asbestos. 

Controlled asbestos is harmless. The problem comes from broken, renovated, repaired, or deteriorated asbestos-contained materials (ACMs). The fibers could pollute your indoor air quality. This results in critical respiratory diseases. 

What Are the Diseases and Conditions that Could Affect You? 

When inhaled, asbestos fibers enter the body. This invasion can lead to malignant tumor formation on the lungs, heart, or abdomen. This is the most severe disease associated with exposure - diagnosed as mesothelioma, a type of cancer. 

The signs of mesothelioma can begin as mild conditions. In the early stages of this cancer, it can be difficult to diagnose. Of the 29 most common cancers, mesothelioma has one of the lowest five-year survival estimates in a study completed by Nuffield Trust. 

Patients usually endure chronic symptoms like:

• Shortness of breath 

• Coughing 

• Chest pain 

• Fatigue 

• Excess fluid in the lungs 

Other conditions include pleural plaques, asbestosis, and pleural thickening. Although there is no safe amount of exposure to asbestos, these illnesses progress from years of contact. 

Mitigating Exposure Risks 

Avoiding the dangers of asbestos is possible in your home. The previously listed ACMs can become a guide for you to understand the housing industry’s history with this toxin and the types of ways it was used. As mentioned, asbestos contained is safe. Many of these products do not pose an immediate threat. 

Asbestos is invisible to the naked eye. You should hire an abatement professional to remove ACMs. A professionally certified specialist can both confirm asbestos in your home and properly remove it. Try to avoid touching, disturbing, or attempting to remove ACMs alone. Professionals can handle asbestos without forcing the fibers to become airborne. 

Additionally, it is illegal to dump ACMs in common disposal sites or dumpsters. Any product with asbestos has to be labeled in distinct packaging when disposing at approved locations. Typically however, abatement professionals take on the process for what to do with asbestos containing materials. 

Remember that ACMs are most prone in older homes. If you do come across these materials, recognizing the dangers of asbestos is your best prevention. Unfamiliarity with this carcinogen is especially worrying. This week is a significant time for homeowners globally. GAAW can provide you with the resources you need for home health.

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