Asbestos Found In Water Tanks
There was a time when asbestos was not considered to be a damaging and/or hazardous mineral. Before the 90s, it was common to see it being used in a wide array of situations especially when it came to building houses and commercial structures.
Due to this phenomenon, it is important to understand where asbestos might be situated on a property if you are not careful as a property owner. It is imperative to remain aware of where asbestos can be found and making sure to inspect that area in advance.
One of those areas would be the water tank.
Here is a breakdown of how asbestos can be found in water tanks.
Asbestos in Water Tanks
Water tanks used to be made of concrete as a way to ensure they were resolute. This meant the composition utilised during the manufacturing process was specifically designed to stay durable. This is why more and more manufacturers at the time were using asbestos in the mixture.
This mineral was known to offer resolute protection due to the nature of a water tank. It was to hold water and that meant breakage over the long-term if the right type of coating wasn't used.
During the time, it was likely for the coating to include a little bit of asbestos.
This is why property owners need to remain aware of where the water tank is located and how it has been made. A quick inspection can assist with this process to alleviate some of the health risks that come along with exposed asbestos.
Potential Risks
1. Consumption
It starts with the consumption of tiny fibres present in the water tank.
Imagine the fibres get into the water and start being used as the water comes out. This can contaminate the entire property and the area around it.
Due to this, a lot of people will take the time to have an official inspector go through the water tank to see whether or not asbestos is present. It is the right decision in most situations because it protects everyone around the water tank.
2. Spreading into the Air
Another concern has to do with the tiny fibres getting into the air.
This is how most asbestos-related health concerns start to arise. When a person breathes in the compromised air, it is possible for their lungs to start slowing down and that is when things such as lung cancer become a serious concern.
The reason for it spreading into the air from the water tank has to do with the outer coating. This coating breaks down with older water tanks and begins to spread into the air slowly.
3. Continued Exposure
Exposure is one of the biggest concerns with asbestos in water tanks.
It is not just about a quick burst of asbestos as that is a short-term problem. Instead, you don't want a situation where it is slowly chipping away and spreading into the air.
This is when people don't realise how bad the situation is getting and how damaging it can be on their bodies over the long haul.
Final Thoughts
These are the things to think about when it comes to asbestos in water tanks.
Take the time to have a specialist assess the water tank and determine whether or not asbestos is a real concern. In older properties, it is quite likely a little bit of asbestos was used to seal the concrete as a way to make it water-resistant.
However, this might lead to serious concerns about whether or not you are being exposed to asbestos as the water tank gets older.