Asbestos has been used in various construction materials for decades due to its heat-resistant, non-conductive, and robust properties. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that exposure to asbestos fibers can cause severe health problems, and its use in building materials was banned in the UK in 1999. Any building constructed before that year is potentially at risk of containing ACMs, including insulation, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roofing sheets, and pipes. When these materials are left undisturbed, they pose little to no danger. However, any alteration, repair, or demolition work that involves disturbing these ACMs can release the fibers into the air, creating a high risk of exposure.

Asbestos fibers are microscopic, tasteless, and odorless, so it is impossible to detect them without laboratory analysis. Their minuscule size makes them easily inhaled, and once in the lungs, they can remain there for years, causing gradual damage to lung tissue. The effects of asbestos exposure often take years or even decades to manifest, which is why it is called a silent killer. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent coughs, and fluid build-up in the lungs. Mesothelioma and asbestosis are two conditions that have no cure and are almost always fatal.

The good news is that asbestos removal and abatement can reduce the risk of exposure and avoid the development of related health conditions. Asbestos removal entails the proper containment, removal, and disposal of all ACMs in a building or structure. Asbestos abatement is a general term that refers to the reduction or elimination of asbestos materials based on risk assessments. Both processes require a licensed contractor like Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex to carry out the work safely and effectively.