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Asbestos Information

Feb 08
1

5 SHOCKING USES OF ASBESTOS

By | Asbestos Information | No Comments

The mining of asbestos began over 4,000 years ago. As such, its use has been varied throughout history. This article will explore five of the most eye-opening uses of asbestos, providing you with a more detailed understanding.

 

Cigarette Filters

While thousands of products contained asbestos, only one was designed for use in a person’s mouth: Kent Micronite cigarette filters.

Produced by Hollinsworth & Vose Company, crocidolite filters were used by Lorillard Tobacco Company between 1952-1956.

Over 11.6 billion asbestos containing cigarettes were sold during that period, and a 1989 study of Hollinsworth & Vose Company factory workers found that around 84% of employees died of asbestos-related diseases.

 

Bank Notes

In the early 1700s, paper containing asbestos was discovered in Italy. A century later, the Italian government began using asbestos fibres in the manufacturing of its bank notes.

Accordingly, everyday contact with asbestos became commonplace during this period, causing many health complications along the way.

 

RAF Suits

In the early part of the 20th century, asbestos was very popular in the manufacturing of fireproof clothing. The fire resistant properties of asbestos made this a natural step prior to widespread knowledge of its toxicity.

Among other utilisers, the Royal Air Force wore suits containing asbestos, enabling the effective fighting of fires. Needless to say, this had disastrous – if at the time unforeseen – consequences for the health of those instructed to wear such suits.

 

Talcum Powder

When contemplating asbestos containing materials, the mind naturally leans towards images of construction, industry and building products. However, many people are shocked to discover that, in natural forms, some talcum powders contain asbestos.

In recent decades, leading talcum powder brands have faced lawsuits relating to asbestos content and the associated side effects. The cosmetic use of talcum powder makes this a highly emotive subject that is likely to rumble on.

 

Synthetic Snow

For centuries, the useful properties of asbestos have lent themselves greatly to commercial exploitation. In contrast to the typical uses of asbestos, the material has appeared as fake snow in many successful films and theatre productions – most notably the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz.

Indeed, synthetic snow containing traces of asbestos was widely available to in a retail environment early in the 20th century, causing widespread damage.

 

Get Peace Of Mind, Order A Asbestos Testing Kit Today!

You can never be too sure about asbestos content in a wide variety of products and materials. Therefore, contact a member of our team today for advice and guidance. More pertinently, you may wish to purchase one of our products to kick-start your journey to a safer world.

Jan 26
0
Ripped Up Asbestos Floor Tiles

Testing Floor Tiles for Asbestos

By | Asbestos Information | No Comments

If your kitchen or bathroom is over thirty years old, it’s likely that you will want to replace them in the near future. The floor tiles used in kitchens and bathrooms of this age often contain asbestos, in the form of chrysotile, so it is essential to test for asbestos prior to removing them.

Floor tiles containing asbestos are not particularly dangerous, unless they become damaged or disturbed, which can result in the unintentional release of asbestos fibres into the air.

Both home and business owners are left with a choice of whether to replace the floor tiles, or whether to just leave them undisturbed.

Provided below is a breakdown of the best practices to take while making your decision.

 

Damaged or Disturbed Asbestos Floor Tiles

 

For the most part, floor tiles that contain asbestos are a low risk to humans. However, an entirely different situation occurs if the floor tiles become damaged or disturbed during removal or by accident.

Floor tiles can become worn down over the years, from both walking over them or from objects being dragged across them. After a while, these once-strong floor tiles become weak and brittle. At this point, they become a risk to humans. Once the floor tiles begin to crumble, asbestos fibres become airborne, representing a health hazard.

If you notice your floor tiles starting to become old and worn, take the first steps to ensuring safety by ordering a great value asbestos self-testing kit from Asbestos Samples Ltd.

If you order today, one of our asbestos testing kits can be with you the next working day. This kit includes all of the government certified safety equipment needed to keep you safe while taking samples of potential asbestos containing materials.

There is no longer a need to wait for a costly asbestos surveyor to come out to your property. Using our simple services, you can receive same-day results, which can help to mitigate unnecessary delays to your projects.

Order Your Kit!Order Your Kit!

But What If I Like My Floor Tiles?

 

The retro look is very fashionable at the moment, with many of the big-named stylists and publishers documenting it. However, this does not mean that you should keep your retro-looking floor tiles in favour of replacing them for newer ones.

These old floor tiles become incredibly slippery when wet, which becomes a hazard for people walking over them. This can be especially dangerous for the older generation, who can slip and fall, causing long-term damage to themselves.

If you really want to keep the retro feel, we would strongly recommend replacing these old floor tiles with modern tiles with a retro design. However, if you choose to do this, make sure you get the old tiles tested first to put a stop to any potential harm caused during the removal process.

Asbestos Samples Ltd