Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Asbestos Debris a Concern in the Remains of Fire-Destroyed Buildings

The debris of fire-damaged structures could contain asbestos, a carcinogenic substance.
Older buildings damaged or destroyed by fires may leave behind asbestos in their charred remains. Such debris can cause serious harm to people who inhale it or ingest it. Once commonly used as a building material in buildings across South Florida and across the nation, asbestos has become known as one of the more carcinogenic substances out there. Companies have largely stopped using it altogether, although traces of the substance remain in many structures built prior to the 1980s. People exposed to asbestos often experience breathing difficulties, although they may not develop cancers until years, or even decades, later. Many homeowners, property owners and property managers have proactively tried to eliminate this hazardous substance before it can cause harm. In South Florida, people can enlist asbestos abatement fort lauderdale firms to test for, and get rid of, asbestos in buildings and in outdoor spaces.

Public safety professional and health experts say that people should avoid the areas around burned-down buildings, if at all possible, and use caution to avoid contact with the debris from these buildings. Buildings and homes damaged by fires could put people’s health in jeopardy, not only from airborne contaminants like asbestos and dust, but also from the structures themselves. Fire-damaged buildings could suddenly collapse, imperiling anyone in the vicinity. Debris or dust from these buildings could contain asbestos, and people could unknowingly carry microscopic asbestos fibers into their homes or workplaces if they walk in the vicinity of asbestos-containing buildings.

In Miami area locations like North Miami Beach, Doral, South Beach, Cutler Bay and Hialeah, residents can take measures to protect themselves and their families from the potential danger of asbestos in their homes. They can hire asbestos removal miami companies to determine the extent of asbestos in houses, condos and other structures and eliminate the substance before it causes diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.