People who suffer from mesothelioma want to warn others of home renovation asbestos exposure.

Home renovation shows are gaining popularity, and now more and more people are taking on do-it-yourself home renovation projects. These projects may seem like a great way to add value to a home, save money on hiring professionals, and express personal style.

However, many older homes contain asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that can cause a range of health problems when breathed in. Asbestos is heat resistant and thanks to its long fibers, the mineral is durable. So, for many years, it has been a go-to material for building materials, and home renovation asbestos exposure is still possible. 

Despite its advantages, asbestos is associated with significant dangers. Since the early 20th century, it has been known that exposure to the mineral could cause cancer. People initially thought that exposure to asbestos could only cause lung cancer, but over the course of the 20th century, it was discovered that asbestos exposure could cause a range of cancers.

Because of the dangers of asbestos, its use in building materials and construction was widely limited in the U.S. in the middle of the 20th century. Asbestos is only dangerous when its fibers are disturbed and breathed in. For that reason, it is still legal to have asbestos in older buildings, as long as it remains undisturbed.

Because asbestos is still present in many older buildings, many people are still exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. People who work in construction, renovation, and cleaning are most likely to face asbestos exposure. People who simply work or live in an older building may also be exposed, especially if the asbestos is loose, cracked, in disrepair, or if the building is being cleaned or repaired.

Many people are developing asbestos-related disease many years after they were exposed. Current victims say that they were not sufficiently warned of the dangers of asbestos exposure, and were not able to avoid exposure or take steps to prevent themselves from breathing in the fibers.

Now, some people worry that the new trend of do-it-yourself home renovation will lead to a rise in home renovation asbestos exposure. Home renovation asbestos exposure is especially risky to individuals who undertake an amateur job, because they are less likely than professionals to understand the risk associated with renovation, and are less likely to be able to take steps to protect themselves.

Some people who developed asbestos-related diseases wish that there were warnings about the dangers of asbestos exposure advertised with every home renovation show to help protect viewers hoping to undertake their own project.

Others worry that even if there are more warnings about asbestos, many people won’t take them seriously. Because home renovation asbestos exposure doesn’t develop until many years after a project is done, people have a hard time seeing the conditions as a real threat.

However, people who are facing deadly cancers like mesothelioma understand that asbestos is dangerous, and wish that they had been properly warned. Some asbestos-related condition sufferers are filing lawsuits to hold employers, manufacturing companies, and others accountable for not warning them of the dangers of asbestos exposure.