Has your office space, or building you frequent most often recently been remodeled? Remodeling can raise some concerns, especially within buildings that were constructed prior to the 1980’s. Different materials were used to construct the foundation and walls that make up these spaces, some of which can be a silent threat to our well-being.
Asbestos was a commonly used material for things such as ceiling tiles, wall coverings, plumbing fixtures, and even within roofing shingles. If your home or office was recently remodeled, its important to make sure the proper steps were taken to ensure asbestos fibers did not become airborne during construction. When disrupted, these fibers are released into the air, becoming inhaled by those within the building.
Asbestos exposure can have long term effects, such as the formation of pleural mesothelioma – a type of cancer in the lungs. Sometimes, these symptoms do not show up until later down the road, which is why its important to stay on top of these threats before they become serious.
Check with your local town or city, and ask them to share resources that can help you to identify buildings that contain, or have once contained asbestos. If you live in New York City, check out this asbestos locator map, that helps residents to identify risky areas in the city.
