We need to watch our health

Beware of the A word... Asbestos!

Many years ago, I remember that while noone was home, I made the decision that

I would lift the old lino in my kitchen. I was keen to see if I was going to find glorious matai or kauri floorboards underneath, that would finish my kitchen off nicely. While it lifted easily, it did not come up cleanly, and left a grey fluffy coating which was rather annoying.

I dragged all the old lino out into the paddock, deciding that it would be far easier to just put a new floor down and cork tile it. I thought I had done a grand job until our builder who we had always used to renovate our old villa over many years, arrived and asked me what I did with the old lino. To cut a long story short... you guessed it, it was asbestos backed lino which I hadn’t even thought about... so as you can imagine I was not in the good books!

What is asbestos?

The scientific term for asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic ‘fibrils’ that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes.

Asbestos was predominantly used in the construction and building industry up until the 1990s. It became a popular building material due to its exceptional insulating and reinforcing properties as well as being fire resistant.

Health and asbestos

Health risks occur when asbestos dust is inhaled or ingested.

The fibres can become permanently trapped in the body due to their composition and can cause inflammation, scarring and eventually genetic damage. It is the single biggest cause of work-related disease deaths in New Zealand.

Where is it commonly found in your home?

Asbestos is often found in firmly bound material such as cement sheeting, flue pipes, roof shingles, floorboards, and lino. (Remember we are talking pre-1990).

There is also a form of loose asbestos, which can be found in hot water piping, domestic heaters, ceiling insulation and stoves.

What do you do if you think you have asbestos in your home?

Identify and manage are the two words that stick in my mind after my experience, and I would tell anyone…if in doubt call in a professional. They will advise, test and if it is asbestos, they know the correct method of removal. This way you will keep safe from any potential health risks associated with asbestos.