Testing for Asbestos

The majority of old homes and buildings such as schools and offices may contain asbestos. This material is known to cause various forms of cancers including mesothelioma and asbestosis. This article will discuss why it is important for asbestos testing to be done.

Asbestos was a widely used material in many products because of how easily it was to use. Some common products that used asbestos include:

• appliances
• paint
• floor tiles
• heating and plumbing ducts

Because of the many uses of asbestos it causes a problem when such products are disturbed. For example, when renovations are being done on old buildings.

Asbestos is a fibrous material; this basically means it can be separated into fibers. As a result, when disturbed the asbestos separates into tiny fibers that can be inhaled. When these fibers are inhaled, the person who inhales them may not develop serious health problems immediately. Rather, these health problems will start to show several years later. When this occurs, it is important to start asbestos testing immediately.

Asbestos Testing

Many labs may determine the presence of asbestos and different objects by carrying out one of three tests. These tests are:

1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
2. Polarized light microscopy (PLM)
3. Phase contrast microscopy (PCM)

The first two tests show the difference between asbestos and other materials that are not asbestos. The TEM test uses magnifying, chemical and mineral tools, while the PLM test uses polarized light. The PCM test magnifies materials but cannot tell them apart. The TEM test is the most expensive of the three.

Once the test has been carried out and asbestos has been found on the property it must be removed by professionals. This is because of the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. When inhaled these fibers lodge in the lungs and can cause many symptoms such as:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pains
• a persistent cough, etc.

If you are suffering from an asbestos-related condition speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer to know your legal options.