With the number of negatives that have been attached to asbestos throughout the years, it’s a wonder that it’s still being used in construction materials. Even more interesting is that despite the dangers linked to asbestos, not all senators are ready to have it banned in the United States.
Billed Up
Eight senators are pushing forward with a bill that will hopefully end the use of asbestos in America, but they will need more votes to back up their move.
Currently, asbestos testing helps Salt Lake City residents to identify whether their house is in danger of asbestos beyond safe levels. Several health conditions such as asbestosis and lung cancer are associated with asbestos when disturbed. The fact that it is resistant to heat makes the house less prone to fires, which is perhaps the strong argument against having it banned entirely.
Improvements Needed, at Least
While citizens of Utah and beyond await the result of such a bill being proposed, home builders and contractors need to choose materials that do not put a family at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. There should also be enough information on how to dispose of asbestos properly, to prevent exposure while trying to get rid of materials coated with it. Homeowners who have found out that their home is unsafe should have experts for asbestos removal, as doing it themselves may only aggravate the issue.
Draining Funds
Asbestos is also the reason that several residents in an apartment complex cannot retrieve their belongings after a fire destroyed their homes. There has been some confusion on handling repairs, and on top of it, the presence of asbestos has been determined. Those poor residents will have to get by without their belongings until authorities clear them.
Asbestos affects health, finances, and quality of life. It’s about time the government weighed its pros against its cons.
