While most people are familiar with the basic premise behind asbestos health hazards, many may not know that there is a long latency period between the initial exposure and the development of medical issues.

Asbestos health hazards include lung cancer and mesothelioma. Many people who have developed these conditions interacted with asbestos years or decades prior in their work environment and did so without knowing of the dangers of exposure to this known carcinogen.

Additionally, though asbestos is generally not used in modern building materials, asbestos health hazards are still present because the material may still be present in older structures. These fibers can be impossible to spot and can hide in places that people don’t expect. Those who work in construction or demolition of older homes or buildings may unknowingly be exposed to asbestos.

Some may not be aware of the severity of the asbestos health hazards they face until years after exposure when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos.

Homeowners and contractors should be award of potential exposure to asbestos in older homes. Even though new homes are not made with items containing asbestos fibers anymore, the age of the home could mean that these fibers are inside, for example in the floor or ceiling.

Tearing out the walls and doing other home renovation projects could put contractors and do-it-yourselfers at risk of inhaling these fibers. Dangerous concentrations of asbestos fibers can be released into the air even during a basic renovation.

For example, the installation of a new window or doorframe could release asbestos fibers into the air. When breathed in, the reaction may not be immediate but asbestos fibers can become embedded in the lungs and other parts of the body if ingested.

Fibers can reportedly be released in a number of other situations–for example, when preparing a wall for electrical cables or tearing out old bathroom tiles. When putting in a new hardwood floor, it is important for homeowners and contractors to think about the removal and installation process.

It can be hard to identify items that could contain asbestos. While most people know the kind of roofing tiles that are known for containing asbestos fibers, asbestos health hazards can be present in other materials as well. For example, asbestos can be inside plasters, spackling paste, fillers, and mortar powders. While asbestos fibers are likely a tiny portion of what goes into these materials, pulling out an entire section of your home with these inside can lead to asbestos health hazards.

Asbestos health hazards can develop over the course of time and affect you or your loved ones decades into the future. When carrying out a big home renovation project, experts recommend that contractors and homeowners be aware that removing large sections of the home can lead to high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air, all of which can be extremely hazardous for to human health.

Those individuals who completed projects recently or even years in the past should be aware that asbestos health hazards can include lung problems and even a diagnosis of mesothelioma.