Earth has given mankind everything it needs to survive and thrive. Every day you wake up and take a big breath of air, followed by drinking a tall glass of mineral river water, and soon after feeding your body with a nutrient dense breakfast. Well maybe your morning routine doesn’t look quite as refreshing as that, but you get the point. We live on an exceptional planet that provides everything we need and more.
An exceptional planet will often produce exceptional minerals, one being asbestos. That’s right. I’m talking about the crumbly, outdated popcorn texture hanging from your ceiling. I’m talking about the floor tiles you just had installed in your new master bathroom. Or the new toaster oven you just got from your aunt-in-law as a wedding gift and you couldn’t wait until Sunday morning to heat up some toaster strudels for your newlywed wife. Yes, I’m talking about asbestos. (If you’re curious about what else contains asbestos, check out (https://tetonenvironmentalinc.com/asbestos-and-renovation-proojects/)
Without knowing the risks of asbestos, it is the perfect building and insulation material. It can withstand up to 1,900°F, which is ideal for fireproofing your roof, flooring, and thermal insulation in your home. It is also capable of improving the lifespan of materials such as cement and roof shingles for up to fifty to sixty years.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be pulled into a fluffy consistency. Asbestos fibers are soft and flexible yet resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make asbestos exceptionally useful, but because of how strong and resilient it is, makes it highly toxic and deadly if inhaled or consumed. Once it enters your body, the fibers can become forever trapped in your body and lungs. Causing scarring, inflammation, and eventually cancer called mesothelioma. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-ca)
By now you’ve probably thrown away your toaster oven and wrapped yourself in bubble wrap like a chicken taquito wondering how anyone has survived eating toaster strudels before. Have no fear, there’s still hope. Asbestos is only a danger once it becomes friable, meaning it can easily be crumbled. Asbestos becomes a serious issue during home renovations and demolitions when asbestos building materials (ABM) become friable and dust particles are in the air. It’s always recommended you hire a professional to test for asbestos before any construction has started, as it is nearly impossible to tell if something is asbestos-free.
