Asbestos is considered a silent killer and often it can go unnoticed, and the very idea of its presence in any building that lies around your building is good enough to create uneasiness and concern.

In case you happen to be the owner of the building then you are responsible for removing this material from your property because you could be held responsible for the negative effects of the substance.

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The asbestos dangers have been well proved over the last few years and now it has been more than 20 years since this substance was totally banned from use in any construction work in the UK.

So, by virtue of that, what does it mean for all building owners of the UK today and what laws are presently enforced surrounding it? Whether the risk now has subsided, and if not, then what are the possible dangers to the present generation?

If you want your property for a proper asbestos survey Richmond then you must contact Advance Asbestos Removal, who has the necessary equipment and trained professionals to detect asbestos material present in your property.

What is Asbestos?

The naturally occurring mineral products that have the following properties can be termed asbestos:

• Resistant to any thermal or chemical degradation
• Resistant to electricity and fire
• Can be woven
• Have strong fibres
• Is an excellent binding agent.

There are 2 groups of asbestos:

• Serpentine: This is Chrysotile (white) asbestos
• Amphiboles: This contains Amosite/Grunerite and Crocidolite asbestos.

There are 3 other varieties of Amphiboles:

• Anthophyllite
• Actinolite
• Tremolite

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They cannot be used commercially, so are rarely mined as a consequence. The amphiboles are more dangerous than serpentine varieties because of the formation and shape of the fibres, and there are more signs linking them with a few asbestos-related mortalities.

Having said all that, all types of asbestos must be treated with great caution and it is important to ensure that the correct protocol must be followed when removing any products containing this substance, particularly in scenarios where you are not too sure of the quantities present.

Asbestos can become the cause of the following serious and fatal diseases:

1.     Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a certain cancer that can affect the lining of your lungs and the lining surrounding your lower digestive tract.

It is exclusively related to certain asbestos exposure and when you are diagnosed, it has already become fatal.

2.     Asbestos-related lung cancer

It is nothing different than the lung cancer which can be caused due to smoking and a few other causes.

It is assessed that there must be around one lung cancer for every death that occurs due to mesothelioma.

3.     Asbestosis

Asbestosis is another serious scarring lung condition that normally occurs after getting heavy exposure to asbestos for many years.

This condition is able to cause progressive shortness of your breath, and in certain severe cases, it can be fatal.

4.     Pleural thickening

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Generally, pleural thickening is an issue that can happen due to heavy asbestos exposure. The lung lining gets thickened and swells.

If the condition gets worse, the lung itself can also be squeezed and will cause shortness of breath and a lot of discomfort in the chest.

It is also important to note that those who smoke are also exposed to certain asbestos fibres, and hence are at much more risk of developing lung cancer.

Conclusion

As asbestos is considered to be a dangerous material that is generally associated with building construction, the use of asbestos has been banned by law in the UK. The landlord will be held responsible if the building is found to be containing asbestos.

Asbestos can cause serious consequences like lung cancer due to longer exposure.