Adhesives
One of the largest industries that is known to use asbestos-containing materials is that of construction. There are many different types of materials involved such as cements and adhesives that are used to make lumber, brick, glass, and even mirrors stick together. Before the ban on asbestos-containing materials, many interior walls had liquid sealant compounds that were used to water and soundproof them. There were also many different compounds used to patch and caulk different parts of the walls. These were normally applied using a putty knife, caulking gun, or similar machine. Some of these were even used in order to connect joints to metal ducts, seal areas around windows, and to adjoin bricks to different surfaces.
There were many types of asbestos and adhesives used in both linoleum and floor products before the 1980s. Anybody who has flooring in their home that they suspect may contain asbestos need to get it properly checked before doing any remodeling. This is due to the fact that removing asbestos adhesive actually poses a serious health risk. Most homes should have listed whether or not asbestos was involved in construction, but it is always better to err on the side of safety. Possible asbestos-containing materials can be tested for the presence of the dangerous mineral.
Some of the major health problems caused from asbestos adhesive exposure are asbestosis, many types of cancers including mesothelioma, and the scarring of the tissue in the lung. This is the reason that an asbestos contractor should always be contacted in order to make sure that asbestos is not present in the home. Not knowing and working anyway can lead to a terrible illness or even death.
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