Mesothelioma - Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure - mesothelioma disease - Older homes

Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Exposure to asbestos in older homes

Mesothelioma is a disease also known as "asbestos cancer". It is a cancer of the lungs and is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.

Many older homes were built using materials that may increase risk to asbestos exposure and asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma. Older homes may have asbestos in vinyl floor tiles, insulation, roofing, siding shingles, textured paint, and many other common home building materials.

When selling your home, disclose to potential buyers any information you have regarding asbestos materials that are present in your home. If you have had inspections that determined the presence of asbestos in your home, provide the asbestos inspection information also.

When buying and older home ( built 1970's or earlier ) it is recommended that you check for the presence of asbestos by hiring a qualified inspector prior to your purchase. Not all inspectors are qualified or offer asbestos inspections, so be sure to check before you hire.

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of asbestos fibers inhaled. When materials containing asbestos are sawed, sanded, broken apart, etc. the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers and contracting lung diseases such as mesothelioma increases.

Some additional facts about asbestos exposure and risk of abestos related lung cancer diseases such as mesothelioma:

• mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity
• asbestosis, is a condition in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue
• The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos
• Until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos

The above fact list regarding asbestos exposure was obtained from information provided by the American Lung Association, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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