If you are concerned about asbestos exposure you are not alone. Many individuals wonder if they have been exposed, and if so, what they can do to help protect their health. If you think that you have been exposed to asbestos or are looking for ways to prevent an exposure, look no further. We will go over some of the health problems that arise from asbestos exposure, and what can be done to prevent them.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used for a variety of different applications. Many homes may have this material in their insulation, as it is a fire retardant. Once exposed, individuals can inhale the microscopic asbestos particles and take them into their lungs. Once there, the fibers can cause lung cancer. If prolonged exposure occurs, an individual can also develop cancer in the chest cavity and abdomen.
It is important to note that many individuals have experienced brief exposure and been just fine. The fine asbestos particles are difficult to see and get rid of, so it is common for them to remain in their air for long periods of time thus increasing the risk of cancer. Smokers are at an increased risk for side effects due to exposure.
If you think that your home may have asbestos there are several places that you want to look. It is important to remember that products today do not contain the fiber, only things built in the 1970’s or earlier.
- Steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts could be insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape. If the fibers become damaged or are repaired improperly, they could lead to exposure.
- Resilient floor tiles- the backing on many vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives could contain asbestos. Sanding the tiles or scraping them could release the fibers.
- Cement, millboard, and paper that were used as insulation around furnaces and wood burning stoves. Repairing or removing these appliances could stir up the fibers.
- Door gaskets- in furnaces, wood stoves, and coal stoves.
- Sound proofing or decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings. Sanding, drilling or scraping the material could be harmful.
- Cement roofing, shingles, and siding. This usually only cause a problem when sawed, drilled, or cut.
If you think that you have asbestos in your home, don’t panic. If the material is good condition, you can leave it alone. It is only when these materials are disturbed that there is a problem. If you find a damaged area- discard it using asbestos gloves and a facial mask. Your local health or environmental officials will be able to walk you through the proper disposal procedure. Always check with them when beginning any remodeling job.
Remember, the only way to find out if something contains asbestos is to look at it under a microscope. Enlist the help of a professional, and let them handle the details. They are trained in such removal procedures and can help ensure the safety of your family and loved ones.
By: Kasi Jones
Posts Tagged ‘Wood Burning Stoves’
Checking for Asbestos in Your Home
May 15th, 2010Home Sauna Kits – Do It Yourself
January 22nd, 2010
Used to be that, if you wanted a sauna, you’d either have to join a gym or book some time at your favorite health spa. Because of a growing awareness of all the healthy benefits that come with using a sauna, the demand for private saunas has increased to the point that now there are “Do-It-Yourself” ( or DIY ) sauna kits available.
Before jumping up on the DIY bandwagon, it’s important that you look into the following and use them as your guidelines when considering which sauna kit is right for you:
What type of sauna do you want or need? Where are you planning to place it in your home or office? What type of materials will work best for you? How much “sweat equity” do you plan on contributing to it’s construction? What design are you considering?
Before you get overwhelmed with all of the different types of saunas out there, keep in mind that saunas basically fall into two different general categories: Infrared and Traditional.
The Traditional Saunas employ a separate energy source which will heat rocks that are placed within the structure as well as providing a way of circulating the heated air within the sauna chamber. Additionally, many sauna devotees feel that the true core of the entire experience is to sprinkle the heated rocks with water to generate body cleansing steam. These other energy sources are supplied by electric, gas, even wood burning stoves. With any of these steam-type saunas, you must make sure that there is an approved ventilation system installed and with the gas and wood burning stoves, you must also make sure that safety codes are adhered to implicitly.
On the other hand, there are the state of the art Infrared saunas which use infrared wave emitters that are very effective in making you sweat. Instead of expending additional energy to heat the entire sauna, these emitted waves actually go right to the heart of the matter, by penetrating your skin, without wasting as much time and energy that the Traditional Saunas do.
The difference is that the Infrared Saunas do not produce steam: they are a dry-heat sauna, so any type of exhaust or ventilation needed as with the Traditional Saunas is not necessary.
Now that you’ve decided which type of sauna you want, you need to decide where you want it to be set up. If it’s for your office, then the next point may not be as much of a consideration for you, but if it’s at home, do you want it to be an indoor or an outdoor sauna? Many enthusiasts say there is nothing like walking out of your hundred plus degree sauna into the “great outdoors”. If that’s not for you, then you will probably want the advantage and convenience of having your sauna installed indoors, where it will not only be more readily available: the operating costs involved in heating and maintaining a high temperature will be much less than the outdoor location.
Besides being able to get dressed without shivering and to relax after your sauna if you’re indoors, it’s also much easier to connect to an indoor power source, so that should also be taken into account.
The next most important thing is to ensure that you have the right type of materials to construct your sauna. Most saunas are made of wood, so it’s very important to inspect every piece before you buy your sauna, especially what will be used in the inner chamber.
Whether or not you choose to go with the Traditional or the Infrared Sauna, keep in mind that the wood used for the sauna interior needs to be knot-free. Cedar is the most commonly used wood for this part of the sauna as it stays relatively cool and will absorb moisture as needed. If the planks are not of uniform length and width or there are any knots in the wood, you do run the risk over time not only of having the wood split, but it may also start seeping sap. Not a good thing to have happened after all your planning and hard work.
Speaking of which, just how much time can you invest in this DIY project? If you are an accomplished handyman, there are kits available that can challenge your skills for a week or more. But if you’re like most people, you are a “Weekend Warrior” and there are kits designed with you in mind: they have a modular design and will require much less time to assemble. Pop onto the internet and you will be sure to find the perfect kit, price wise and otherwise, for you.
While you’re browsing the internet there, you also need to keep in mind the overall sauna design that will work best for you. You’ve decided where it’s going to be place, how it’s going to be heated and how many people you want it to be able to accommodate. Most kits have a pre-set design so make sure that the one you buy has all of the “amenities” you deem necessary.
If you’re more experienced with DIY, you can let your creativity work overtime by buying individual components to customize your sauna. Either way, don’t feel overwhelmed by all of the available choices and options: sauna construction is very forgiving in that as long as you can produce heat and contain it, you’ve got a working sauna!
By: Radoslaw Czajkowski