Asbestos Siding Health Risk

Repainting or removal poses health risks you need to know about.

Asbestos siding health risk.

According to the epa exposure to asbestos can lead to lung diseases like lung cancer mesothelioma and asbestosis. The general impression of asbestos has changed over time so that many people now wrongly assuming that it is a highly dangerous toxic substance that must be immediately removed. The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause. Asbestos is only dangerous when cut sawn or broken into small enough pieces so that asbestos fibers are sent into the air.

All asbestos related hard copy forms with full fee payment on a check or money order payable to treasurer state of ohio must be mailed to ohio epa s central office. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. Asbestosis is a serious chronic non cancerous respiratory disease. Asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of asbestosis an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs that can cause shortness of breath coughing and permanent lung damage and other nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders including pleural plaques changes in the membranes surrounding the lung pleural thickening and benign pleural effusions abnormal collections of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity.

Asbestos only poses a health risk when the fibers are airborne and friable which in the case of asbestos siding only occurs if the siding is actively sawed or broken into many smaller pieces. Periodic health examinations by a physician including a chest x ray and review of asbestos based risk factors can be effective. These asbestos shingles were popular until the 1960s and they do last a long time. Inhaled asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues which cause them to scar.

And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous. Installing vinyl siding will require disturbing the asbestos by nailing into it. The combined impact of cigarette smoking and fiber exposures can increase the chances of asbestos related lung diseases substantially. Period of time since exposures and smoking history.

In its advanced stages the disease may cause cardiac failure. If asbestos remains intact in siding insulation popcorn ceilings or other materials it poses no risk and is not dangerous. While these are obviously terrible diseases the risk associated with exposure from asbestos cement siding isn t that great unless you re cutting drilling or removing damaged siding. Asbestos risk factors include levels frequency and length of asbestos exposures.

Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken. Does merely being exposed to asbestos guarantee health problems. The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Health risks with asbestos siding.

Both the epa and the vinyl siding institute recommend not disturbing asbestos if at all possible. Most cases of mesothelioma asbestosis and other asbestos related diseases involve workers who are exposed to high levels of airborne asbestos fibers.