If you live in an apartment that was built before 1981, it may contain asbestos. In this case, federal rules require landlords to test for the mineral and take measures to protect tenants from it.
Asbestos is a dangerous material that can cause health problems over time, including mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis. Asbestos is found in insulation, floor tiles, and other products.
1. Contact an Asbestos Expert
If you’re renting an apartment and you suspect that there’s asbestos in the building, the first thing to do is to hire an expert to inspect it. This person can tell you whether or not the materials are safe and if they need to be removed or repaired.
If the material contains asbestos, a professional will also take samples and send them to a qualified laboratory for testing. Once they have the results, they’ll let you know what to do next.
Aside from contacting an asbestos expert, you should also talk to your doctor about the possible health problems that could result from being exposed to this substance. Symptoms include lung diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Asbestos can be found in many construction materials, including insulation, drywall, floor tiles, and roofing materials. It’s especially common in older homes.
It can be tricky to determine whether or not a material has asbestos. It can look fine but may have a slight tear or abrasion that could release asbestos fibers.
You’ll need to limit your contact with the material and avoid tearing it up or otherwise disturbing it. It’s not worth the risk of getting sick from breathing in asbestos fibers that will be released if you disturb it.
To prevent future exposure to asbestos, don’t try to replace or remove the material yourself — you can make things worse by contaminating your apartment with more asbestos. If you do need to have the asbestos removed, hire an asbestos contractor to do it properly and document their work.
Asbestos is not regulated in Pennsylvania, but it’s a health hazard and needs to be handled with care. Ask anyone you hire to be certified by the federal government or a state health department, or to have proof that they’ve received EPA-approved training in asbestos work.
If your landlord doesn’t want to have the asbestos removed, you can try a few other options, such as threatening to break your lease or withholding part of your rent. Depending on your state and local laws, you may also be able to sue your landlord for damages.
2. Ask Your Landlord to Have It Removed
If you’re a renter, it’s important to ask your landlord to have asbestos removed from your apartment. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in countless products before it was banned in the 1970s. It can pose serious health risks if you breathe in the air or ingest it through your skin.
In many apartments, asbestos is still present in building materials like insulation, heating ducts, ceiling tiles (especially popcorn ceilings), vinyl flooring, roofing and drywall. It isn’t dangerous in its natural state, but renovations and disturbances can release it into the air.
Asbestos exposure can cause cancer, lung scarring and chronic respiratory issues. Asbestos-related diseases are usually fatal, but there are steps you can take to avoid them.
First, find out what type of asbestos is present in your apartment. There are six types, each containing different fibers. The white, or chrysotile fibers are the most common.
Once you know what type of asbestos is in your home, it is essential to contact an expert in the field to test the material for safety. They will then create a plan for monitoring, repairing or removing the asbestos if necessary.
Your landlord may be legally obligated to remove asbestos from their rental property in some situations. This includes residential buildings built before 1981 that aren’t in good condition, and in other situations where renovations are taking place that involve asbestos.
Depending on the state you live in, your landlord may also be required to protect you and your tenants from asbestos. This requires hiring a company to perform testing, train employees on asbestos safety, implement protective measures and conduct mitigation of the danger.
A landlord may also have to reimburse you for alternative housing while the work is done. The best way to make sure your landlord will pay is to ask them in advance.
If you’re unsure about your rights, speak to an experienced landlord or lawyer. They can help you understand your legal options and how to get justice if you’re injured by asbestos in your apartment. You can also learn more about your legal rights and what to do if you think you’ve been exposed to asbestos in your apartment by visiting Mesothelioma Hope.
3. Take Measures to Prevent Exposure
If you have lived in an apartment that has asbestos-containing materials, there are things you can do to make sure you don’t get sick from it. Depending on how long you’ve been exposed to asbestos, you may have an increased risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Fortunately, the risk of developing these diseases is lower than you might think. Asbestos is a mineral that was once widely used to strengthen materials, such as floor tiles, cement pipes and insulation, and to provide heat and fire resistance.
Asbestos isn’t dangerous unless it’s disturbed or damaged, and it doesn’t usually release its fibers into the air if you aren’t near it. If you do come into contact with it, or if it needs to be inspected and repaired or removed, it is best to hire a professional to help you.
While there are some products that contain asbestos that will not release fibers into the air, such as ceiling or floor tiles and drywall, others might. For example, if your textured ceiling has been damaged or a repair needs to be made in the attic, it’s possible that it will start releasing asbestos fibers into the air, which can be dangerous.
If you do have materials that might have asbestos in them, such as acoustic ceilings, it’s important to have these inspected from time to time and have them repaired or removed when necessary. If you have any known asbestos-containing material that is in good condition, it’s best to leave it alone and have a professional come take a sample and analyze it.
You can also protect yourself from ingesting asbestos by drinking water that has been treated with an anti-asbestos filter or by having your tap water tested to ensure it doesn’t contain asbestos. If you’re concerned about your home’s tap water, you can ask your local water utility for more information.
Asbestos is a potent carcinogen, so you should seek medical attention if you have any of the symptoms listed above. If you do, your doctor might be able to do a chest X-ray or a pulmonary function test to see how much air you can breathe and find out whether you have a lung disease such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
4. Hire a Lawyer
If your apartment has asbestos, you need to do everything in your power to protect yourself and your tenants. This is because asbestos is a toxic material that can cause serious respiratory diseases if breathed in. It can also lead to cancer, particularly mesothelioma.
You should get a professional inspection of your home to find out if there are any materials containing asbestos present in your property. An asbestos expert can give you a thorough report and explain what steps should be taken to protect your health.
Asbestos is a mineral that contains tiny fibers, which can separate and become airborne when disturbed. It can be found in a variety of different products, including floor tile, roofing materials and pipe insulation.
In most cases, however, asbestos will not pose a threat to you and your family. If asbestos is sealed off from air flow and human disturbance, it will not pose a risk to you or anyone living in your apartment.
Sadly, it can be difficult to know whether you are at risk of exposure to asbestos. This is because it can take years for symptoms of mesothelioma or other lung diseases to show up.
If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos, it is vital that you see a doctor immediately. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, a new cough, coughing up blood or pain or tightness in the chest. It can also result in unintended weight loss or difficulty swallowing.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine if you have been exposed to asbestos and can investigate whether the building or owner is responsible for your condition. These claims can be complicated, so it is important to hire a lawyer who has extensive experience in this area.
It is best to work with a firm that offers services and is fully accredited by federal or state regulations. This will ensure that your professional has undergone the necessary training and has a proven record of success.
It is also important to get references from any asbestos experts you hire, and to be sure they are accredited by the proper government agencies. This will protect you and your family from fraudulent asbestos removal companies that have been known to misrepresent their services or encourage unnecessary removals that increase the risks to your health.