December 23rd, 2007

When people are looking into a new home, most consider only the amount of bedrooms and the condition of the house. But when perspective buyers and renters ask about asbestos, the answers can be easy.

When showing a home to potential buyers or renters, many homeowners have a list of ready information to give to them. The age of the roof, upgrades that have been done, amount of footage under air and the like are facts that can be given immediately. But when interested parties ask about the presence of asbestos, the answer does not have to be difficult. Many older homes contain asbestos, and little concern needs to be expressed about that. Ceilings, insulation and sealants can all contain asbestos in a safe form.

In order to know exactly what a home holds, a professional can do an inexpensive test. While asbestos that is breaking apart can lead to emphysema and mesothelioma, this is only if the material is disturbed or is getting too old to function. Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that has been linked with asbestos exposure and occurs when fibers of the material get caught in the lungs. Inspectors can be found locally through the EPA’s website.