Asbestos exposure is something to be wary of. It’s not just merely bad for your health. Exposure to the naturally occurring mineral can lead to health issues like lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. But while all of these issues are problematic, mesothelioma is arguably the worst.
It’s a rare and aggressive cancer that leaves patients with a post-diagnosis life expectancy of usually no more than a year and a half.
Many people fear a cancer diagnosis — and for good reason. The American Cancer Society predicted 1.9 million new cancer cases and 609,360 cancer deaths in 2022. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, says the most prevalent kinds of cancer are breast, colon, lung, prostate, and rectum cancers.
Unfortunately, however, there are 200+ types of cancer. And some are worse than others. Mesothelioma, a disease many people have never even heard of, qualifies as one of the worst. The good news is you can greatly reduce your risk of developing mesothelioma if you avoid asbestos exposure.
Here are five ways you can avoid asbestos exposure and reduce your risk of getting mesothelioma.
1. Identify Potential Asbestos Materials
Avoiding asbestos exposure means identifying the potential sources of asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, many of these risks can be found in residences. So, the place that should be the safest is the riskiest.
Homes built before the 1980s, for instance, may contain materials with asbestos fibers. Insulation, flooring, roofing, and ceiling tiles in older homes are possible sources of asbestos.
It’s essential to avoid interacting with such materials if your residence is old enough to warrant caution. For instance, you’ll want to avoid ripping up certain flooring materials since breaking these tiles can, if the tiles contain asbestos, release the fibers into the air. Breathing in these fibers and getting them in your lungs will increase mesothelioma risks.
2. Hire Professionals for Testing
If your home was constructed before the U.S. started banning products containing asbestos, you might want to hire a company specializing in testing for asbestos. Doing so is a good idea before embarking on any remodeling or repairs that could expose you to materials containing asbestos. Problems can be lurking anywhere, so caution is vital.
All it takes is one exposure to sow the seeds for a mesothelioma diagnosis. Bring in the professionals if you need assurances that your home is safe from asbestos risks.
3. Seal and Enclose Suspected Areas
It’s essential to seal and enclose any area you suspect might present an asbestos risk. So, for instance, if you start remodeling a bathroom and realize insulation behind the wall might have asbestos-containing materials, it’s best to halt your activity. Seal off the bathroom until you can get a licensed abatement contractor to assess the space and take whatever actions might be necessary if there is asbestos.
4. Avoid Old or Damaged Materials
Avoiding broken or damaged materials that could contain asbestos is a good idea. Asbestos is only a danger if the asbestos fibers are airborne. These fibers can be breathed in and cause havoc in the future since problems like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are possible.
If in doubt, call a company specializing in identifying materials containing asbestos and safely disposing of those materials.
5. Keep Children and Pets Away
You must also keep kids and pets from entering rooms or areas you suspect might contain materials with asbestos. Kids and pets could disturb these materials and send the asbestos fibers airborne, which could create serious health concerns.
Asbestos exposure is something to be avoided at all costs. If you adhere to these five points, you can greatly reduce your risks and steer clear of serious life-changing health issues.
