Asbestos Flatboard
Asbestos has been used in the creation of many products over the years. Everything from construction materials to kitchen utensils have been made using at least some quantity of asbestos. Nowadays, the health effects of asbestos exposure are known, which is why the material has been banned in most cases. However, asbestos is still used in some scenarios to this day. Construction workers have to be particularly careful when using materials made with asbestos, especially around asbestos flatboard.
Asbestos flatboard is a material often used on construction sites to give the building a quality finish. Flatboards, not just those containing asbestos, are often reinforced with cement and are typically used as an extra measure of insulation. Even so, asbestos flatboards contained massive quantities of asbestos in the past and can be dangerous to those who worked with them.
During the installation of asbestos flatboards, if the products were broken apart or damaged in any way, the microscopic asbestos fibers could have been released into the air to be inhaled by the workers. Later on, homeowners or building occupants could be exposed to the toxic fibers if they are exposed to the damaged flatboards. Even removal of asbestos flatboards can be hazardous as material could be sent into the air should they incur damage.
People in charge of removing flatboards containing asbestos have to wet the material down and keep it wet during the entire removal process. This helps to prevent the spreading of asbestos fibers. Likewise, asbestos products have to be thrown away in a particular way—contained in marked bags and disposed of at special locations—in order to decrease the likelihood of contamination.
So, what is all the fuss about? People who are exposed to asbestos flatboards could end up with an asbestos-related disease and most diseases caused by asbestos will inevitably lead to death..
Asbestosis, one such disease, can cause difficulty breathing and inflammation of the lung tissue. Various forms of cancer can result from asbestos exposure as well including lung cancer, stomach cancer and gastrointestinal cancers. There is one type of cancer that is completely asbestos specific, however, and it’s called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the linings of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Since symptoms do not present themselves for up to thirty years following asbestos exposure, the prognosis for those diagnosed with mesothelioma is often bleak.
It is always better to be safe than to be sorry. Do not expose yourself to asbestos flatboard or any other product containing asbestos.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Asbestos". Updated 14 November, 2007;
Accessed: 19 March 2008.
Free case consultation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact us using the form below to speak with a mesothelioma consultant, free of charge.