Wollongong locally referred to as “The Gong,” is a thriving city situated in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. It is 68 kilometres (42 miles) away from downtown Sydney. It is famous for having plenty of surfing and swimming beaches, including the Bulli Beach in the north and the Winding Beach in the south. The city is also known as a prime whale-watching spot in NSW.
Aside from the tourist attractions, Wollongong also has a flourishing economy. Its central business district contains plenty of department stores, specialty boutiques, and office buildings. The Smith’s Hill area also contains several multi-story homes, where residences enjoy scenic coastal views and inner-city living.
The city also has several heritage-listed attractions, including the Old Wollongong Telegraph and Post Office. A significant number of old homes are also established in the area. Some of these houses are up for sale, but buyers must be wary of purchasing properties built in the mid-1980s and earlier to avoid asbestos exposure. This natural silicate material may cause health problems to anyone who inhales it. Asbestos Removal Wollongong services are often hired to address this problem.
But not everyone knows why the presence of asbestos is dangerous for a person’s body. Here is some information that you need to know about asbestos and how to get rid of it in your Wollongong home.
What Happens When People Inhale Asbestos
Once asbestos reaches a person’s body through inhalation, it may cause several asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The asbestosis refers to the presence of progressive fibrosis on the patient’s lungs. It can be characterised by wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. If left untreated, it may end up in mesothelioma, lung cancer, or pulmonary heart disease.
Meanwhile, the mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the chest wall and lungs. These diseases can be prevented by minimal exposure to asbestos.
How To Minimize Asbestos Exposure
A homebuyer in Wollongong must ensure the safety of his or her household by limiting their exposure to this material. Asbestos Removal Wollongong services providers are hired to help them handle the material property and rescue the risk of releasing asbestos in the air. Some of the practices that these service providers use when handling asbestos include:
- Keeping the asbestos-containing material wet all the time. Asbestos Removal Wollongong services typically use a low-pressure garden sprayer to release mist that will prevent asbestos fibre from being airborne.
- Preventing any tearing, cutting, chipping, or grinding materials that could contain asbestos. When these construction materials accidentally break, it will unleash the fibres that could be dangerous for the body.
- Disposing of asbestos materials in landfills that accept this type of waste. They can refer to a list provided by the NSW EPA to ensure that the items will be appropriately discarded.
How To Check For Asbestos Presence At Home
Asbestos fibres are very tiny particles that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The only way to be sure that the house contains any asbestos is to have a suspected material checked by an accredited laboratory. Some asbestos removal companies have their facility that can handle the tests.
Making sure that the house in Wollongong is free from asbestos is crucial to prevent any exposure to hazardous minerals. By working with the right service provider to get rid of asbestos safely from your home, you can ensure that your health will be protected from asbestos-related illnesses.