What is Asbestos Fibres?

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals composed of fine, durable fibres and are resistant to heat, fire and may chemicals. Once called the “miracle mineral” for such properties, it was widely within commercial buildings, homes and machinery until 1999, when it was banned. This means asbestos is common in the general environment. 

What are the signs of Asbestos Fibres?

Some common types of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) such as corrugated asbestos cement used for domestic garages and commercial warehouse buildings can be easy to identify, but many more are mot so obvious and a specialist asbestos surveying company will be needed. It is a legal requirement to have information regarding asbestos within all commercial properties built before the year 2000. 

Are Asbestos Fibres a problem?

Asbestos is responsible for over 5000 deaths every year. 
Exposure ti asbestos can cause four main diseases:

1. Mesothelioma ( a cancer of the lining of the lungs; it is always fatal and is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos)
2. Asbestos-related lung cancer (which is almost always fatal)
3. Asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which is not always fatal but can be very debilitating disease, greatly affecting quality of life)
4. Diffuse pleural thickening (a thickening of the membrane surrounding the lungs which can restrict lung expansion leading to breathlessness)