Do you know, asbestos household items are found in the house of many families around the world? Asbestos household items are present in many homes throughout the United States. Asbestos poses a risk when it becomes friable, meaning it can be broken or crumble easily. Asbestos was commonly added to many home building materials before 1979. Although asbestos stopped being manufactured at that time due to federal regulations, products containing the toxic mineral continued to be used until the existing supply was exhausted, until the early 1980s. If you or your loved one was recently diagnosed with stage four mesothelioma or showing stage four mesothelioma cancer symptoms, we can help you find help.
All forms of asbestos household items can cause serious illnesses like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and ovarian, lung, or laryngeal cancers, though they may take decades after exposure to develop. If you do find items in your home that you think might be contaminated, don’t try to remove them on your own. Make sure to have a licensed professional remove the asbestos household items for you. Searching “asbestos removal” on a search engine should give you local results. The Asbestos cancer organization can help you or a loved one that was diagnosed with stage four mesothelioma cancer.
What are the 6 Solid Asbestos household items mostly found in our home?
The list of asbestos household items may surprise you; some are common everyday household items. Here is a list of 6 common asbestos household items mostly found in our various houses.
Home Hot Pads
Modern comfort and convenience in the home would be inconceivable without this mineral curiosity. Iron holders, mats and pads are just a few of the items lined or made with asbestos. These household items proved to be indispensable in protecting from heat and fire.
Hairdryers
Until 1980, asbestos was contained in most hand-held hairdryers. These (now vintage) hair dryers are incredibly dangerous to use, as they blow asbestos-contaminated air directly into the user’s breathing zone. These beauty appliances were manufactured by several different brands, including Conair and Remington, making up approximately 90% of all annual domestic hairdryer sales.
Crock Pots
Crock pots made prior to the mid-1970s contained asbestos, both as an insulator found in the lining between the inner and outer pots and around the power cord to help prevent electrical fires. Due to its excellent insulation abilities, crocidolite asbestos (also known as blue asbestos), was likely used as the insulation for the cords, mainly because the products would be plugged in for long periods of time.
Ceiling Texture
The dreaded asbestos popcorn ceiling was a fixture in decorating in the 1970s. The texture was created by spraying a bumpy coating that contained asbestos. The use of asbestos was banned in ceiling products in 1978, but any popcorn ceiling that predates 1978 likely contains asbestos.
Vermiculite Insulation (Zonolite)
Vermiculite is a lightweight and fire-resistant mineral that can expand between 8-30 times its size when exposed to high heat. For that reason, it found its way into attics, walls and other insulated areas. However, from 1919-1990, about 70 percent of the vermiculite sold in the U.S. was mined near Libby, MT, and was contaminated with asbestos. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home (usually sold by the brand name Zonolite), you can assume asbestos is there too.
Asbestos in toasters
During the 50s, 60s, and 70s, many toasters were riddled with asbestos that had been used predominately for heat insulation in the body, as well as electrical insulation around the cord. Upon close examination of some of these retro bread-warming appliances, a variety of asbestos insulation panels (attached to heating elements) can be found.
While retro appliances have become a trend in recent years, antique collectors should be mindful when considering using these older style toasters. We can help you find a Michigan mesothelioma lawyer or a New York mesothelioma lawyer depending on where you are from.
How to Avoid Asbestos Exposure in Your Home
Because information about the contents of many asbestos household items is not readily available, most consumers are unaware that these common household items may contain asbestos. Note that the use of asbestos in such household products was banned after 1979.
As a homeowner, the following guidelines may help to avoid any unwanted exposure.
1. Take all precautions not to damage or disturb known materials and products that contain asbestos.
2. If a known asbestos-containing material is damaged in your home, seal off or keep all activities in that area to a minimum.
3. Hire qualified asbestos professionals to perform any testing, handling, repair, or removal.
4. Do NOT dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that contains asbestos. This will increase the chance of exposure by disturbing the fibers and releasing them into the air where they can be easily inhaled.
5. Do NOT sand, scrape, saw, or drill holes into asbestos products. Likewise, do not use any abrasive pads, brushes, or power strippers on dry asbestos flooring.
The post 6 Unnoticed Asbestos Household Items in 2018 appeared first on The Asbestos Cancer Organization.
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