What You Need to Know About Asbestos Air Testing

You might have heard some things about asbestos, and how you should be wary about this. This is something that lurks in the air, invisible in plain sight. When you breathe in, they mix with the air that goes inside your lungs and lodges itself into the lungs’ tissue. Whenever you breathe and the longer you get exposed to it, the stronger it gets and the more it becomes toxic to your health. You may not notice its presence as it is microscopic and almost tasteless, but you will eventually feel the consequences of being exposed to asbestos.  

Asbestos is a common component in any building materials that can still be lurking in your offices or home and in the air you have been breathing. If you want your house to get tested with asbestos, there are companies that offer this kind of service. In fact, before demolition by any local excavation company or prior to renovation, the US EPA requires an asbestos survey to determine if whether or not, the materials contain asbestos, as asbestos can be present whenever the materials may have become damaged.  

What is Asbestos? 

It is a fibrous silicate mineral that is heat-resistant and is usually found in tiles, insulation, cement siding, and other materials in construction. Some of the asbestos-containing materials are banned in the United States, many companies still use this. To make matters worse, asbestos is not illegal in some countries. This is because asbestos is not harmful when it remains inside the material. However, as the material ages, and it crumbles down during renovation or demolition, the fibers can enter the air and become serious in human health.  

When your lungs are exposed in asbestos, it may progress into something serious, and can maybe you very ill.  

Should you have an Asbestos Survey for Your Building? 

Before renovation or demolition, you are required to have an asbestos survey to make sure you avoid health hazards during the whole operation. However, asbestos testing (asbestos survey) can also be conducted whenever there is a demand from the client.  

Is the Asbestos Survey Accurate? 

When it comes to the test or survey, there are two available, which are the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM). both of these tests are reliable although it is the TEM that gives more accurate results due to the fiber size it can detect.  

When using the TEM, the person sends some samples to a laboratory where the sample will be mix with electrons under the microscope, as this determines whether or not the sample contains asbestos or not. Ans because it is more accurate and longer than the PCM, it is more expensive. 

 When it comes to the PCM, someone would use a pump to draw a sample air and then take a slice of the filter to be examined under a microscope. This investigation is quick and does not need more equipment, thus making it less expensive compared to the first asbestos test. 

So, before you go on your plan of demolition or renovation, go on, and conduct an asbestos survey first.