Careful at Christmas – Asbestos in the Attic
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- Created on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 14:19
For many families and individuals, Christmas is a time for families to get together to celebrate with each other and enjoy the many little traditions that unite them as a unit. Though there are many other holidays in various other traditions which also fall during this time, such as Hanukkah, Ramadan, and solstice celebrations to name a few, one tradition which seems ubiquitous among Christmas fans is the decoration of the home. Many people take pride in turning their home into a light bearing torch that would make Clark Griswold blush and potentially be seen from space. These types of displays are often what makes it enjoyable to drive around your local neighborhood at this time of year to see what has been added to familiar yards, or what the newcomer to the neighborhood may display. Part of the fun is that the scenes can change from year to year.
We all know, however, that Christmas decorations aren’t cheap, and therefore carry-over decorations from the holiday-past are standard among every home. Whether it be the antique Santa sleigh with reindeer passed down from your grandfather, or that frosty the snowman lightup globe that everyone hates but you can’t get enough of, it is a part of the display that will be displayed for years to come. Naturally, when it comes to these decorations, most individuals store them in the home. And in many cases, that storage space, for something only used once a year, is in the attic. Many people fail to appreciate, however, that dangers that can be associated with a trip to attic.
Aside from the typical dangers of falling through the drywall which supports most of the floor, or the plaster, many people don’t realize that the insulation in their attic may contain asbestos. Asbestos was a wildly popular additive to insulation due to its properties as being tough, resistant to heat, a low conductor of electricity, and its strong insulation abilities. Though most insulation providers ceased using asbestos in their products many years ago, asbestos in insulation can remain a threat to older homes. Even if those homes have been remodeled, be sure that the attic was either remodeled or the asbestos removed. It has been estimated that millions of homes in the U.S. may still have asbestos lingering in the insulation of the attic, and homeowners, especially those that own older residences, should be especially mindful during their trips to the attic this holiday season of the dangers caused by asbestos. Though it may seem like a remote risk, due to the fact that one may only be in the attic briefly, there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers, especially given the consequences. Asbestos exposure is linked to life altering conditions such as pleural plaques and asbestosis, as well as life threatening conditions such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Homeowners should also be aware that asbestos fibers can hitch a ride on clothing, and thus be brought into the home where children and loved ones may be further exposed to asbestos.
This holiday season, take strides to ensure that your attic spaces are clear from asbestos. Check the available records you have to see if there was asbestos in your home, and if it was removed. Also check to see if the insulation used in your home ever contained asbestos, or the manufacturer of your insulation ever used in asbestos in their products, though if your home is less than 20 years old, the odds are good that you don’t have asbestos in your insulation. If you do own an older home, however, and cannot determine if asbestos was used in the creation of your home, and cannot determine whether it was removed, consider wearing protective breathing masks and thoroughly washing your clothes before congregating with family to ensure the fibers do not become airborne the home. This will prevent asbestos exposure to you and your family, and will also prevent the development of asbestos related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Doing so will help ensure that you not only enjoy this Christmas, but that you and your family members can enjoy many more together in the future.
Happy Holidays from the Cates Law Firm! May your holiday season bring you joy and togetherness with the ones you love.
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