(ARA) - Your house should be your safe haven. It's where you go to relax, unwind and enjoy the free time you have.

But microscopic asbestos fibers, often found in older homes, are cancerous agents that could threaten the safety of your haven and potentially harm your health. Popcorn ceilings, linoleum flooring and even tile in homes built before 1980 can all contain millions of tiny asbestos fibers, and if these materials become airborne and are inhaled, they can lead to the development of lung diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, a cancer that most often affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen, is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer with no known cure.

If you are a big "do-it-yourself" home improver, you need to be cautious of materials in your home that could contain asbestos, a product used freely for decades before it was regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the early 1970s. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 35 million homes in the United States have asbestos in them, warning that, because of the dangers of disturbing asbestos and releasing airborne fibers that can find their way into your lungs, extra care should be taken when making general home improvements as well as removing asbestos-containing materials. In fact, if the materials containing asbestos fibers are unraveling, fraying or breaking apart, it's time to take action because of the well-documented hazards of asbestos exposure.

There are no federal regulations for private homeowners on how to remove these materials, though state and local governments might have some conditions in place. Contact your state environmental agency to learn what requirements you need to follow. The best recommendation for safely removing and disposing of asbestos-containing materials is to employ an asbestos professional. Likewise, to determine if you do have asbestos in your flooring, siding or popcorn ceilings, contact an asbestos abatement professional.

Unfortunately, even the smallest of exposures can result in an asbestos-related disease. Mesothelioma can be particularly difficult to diagnose, as symptoms of mesothelioma may not be present until 20 to 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. They can include shortness of breath, cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, weight loss, trouble swallowing, hoarseness and facial swelling.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the first thing you should do is contact a treatment specialist. There are many complex legal issues and steep medical costs associated with mesothelioma, so you may also want to seek legal advice from an experienced mesothelioma attorney who understands the complexities of asbestos exposure in the home and workplace.

The bottom line? If you think you may have asbestos in your home, take the time to engage a professional before you embark on a do-it-yourself project, and keep your home a safe haven.

About the Simmons Law Firm
Michael Angelides is the Managing Partner of Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC and provided the information for this article. The asbestos lawyers at the Simmons firm represent victims of mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer throughout the country and are a leading supporter of mesothelioma cancer research.

Courtesy of ARAcontent