Asbestos refers to a group of six types of naturally occurring minerals. Asbestos minerals are made up of fine, durable fibres and are resistant to heat, fire and many chemicals. Once called the “miracle mineral” for such properties, asbestos was used in a slew of everyday products, from building materials to fireproof protective gear. It is now widely known that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, as well as other cancers and lung-related illnesses.

All six types of asbestos minerals have common characteristics. All forms of the mineral are odourless and tasteless. When asbestos is present in a material or product, it cannot be detected by a visual examination and must be tested in a laboratory. These properties often make it difficult to determine specific risks of asbestos exposure. However, any exposure to the group of minerals can lead to pleural mesothelioma and other diseases such as lung cancer or asbestosis.

Asbestos is a Category 1 carcinogen and all six types can cause cancer. Blue and brown asbestos are known to be more dangerous than white asbestos. There is no cure for asbestos-related disease. When ACMs are damaged or disturbed, asbestos fibres may be released into the air, which, if breathed in, can cause serious, and often fatal, diseases. Following exposure to asbestos, a person may develop one of the following three fatal diseases:

Asbestosis: fibres penetrating deep into the lung can cause scarring of the tissue, which restricts breathing, leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the airways.

Asbestos-related lung cancer (bronchial carcinoma): a malignant tumour of the lungs' air passages. The tumour grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. Smoking greatly increases the risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancer.

Mesothelioma: a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura) or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum). By the time it is diagnosed it is almost always fatal.

The diseases can take many years (15–60) to develop. There are no immediate changes in someone's health after breathing in asbestos. Other asbestos-related, non-fatal conditions exist, such as pleural plaques and pleural thickening, asbestos warts and corns. There is now adequate evidence that asbestos causes ovarian and laryngeal cancer. However, the asbestos-related risk is much higher for lung cancer and mesothelioma than for other cancers.

ACMs were widely used in the building and construction industry up until 1999. The majority of buildings built between 1940 and 1985, during which time asbestos production peaked, contain asbestos in some form. Asbestos has been widely used in construction materials and for a number of purposes including:

If you think you have come across asbestos in your home or office and you're unsure about whether the material contains asbestos, don't take any chances. Contact us for advice and a free quotation. Always take precautions, and do not disturb any material you suspect might be Asbestos.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that may cause a range of health problems, especially in young children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, like the kidneys, nerves and blood. Lead may also cause behavioural problems, learning disabilities, seizures and in extreme cases, death. Some symptoms of lead poisoning may include headaches, stomach-aches, nausea, tiredness and irritability. Children who are lead poisoned may show no symptoms. Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil and becomes tracked in. Children may become lead poisoned by:

Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil and becomes tracked in. Children may become lead poisoned by:

• Putting their hands or other lead-contaminated objects into their mouths
• Eating paint chips found in homes with peeling or flaking lead-based paint
• Playing in lead-contaminated soil

We would advises against this. Expert cleaning and abatement can avoid problems like lead dust from scrapping off paint. Exposure can also occur when remodeling, repainting, or repairing homes that have lead paint. Contact us for advice, assessment of potential lead hazard and free quotation.

Fungi and mould have existed on earth since life first began and results in the natural decomposition (recycling) of organic materials. In current housing & business premises (the built environment) fungi and mould can damage organic materials used in construction. The growth of fungi and mould on materials in your property can affect human health depending on the extent of the growth, the length of exposure and the health status of the exposed occupants.Mould growth depends on several inter-related factors, including:

• The amount of moisture present or generated
• Insufficient ventilation in terms of air changes per hour
• The thermal properties of the building
• The degree to which the house is heated
• The surface absorption of the walls, floors and ceiling

The growth of mould in a house or building can become cause illness. The most common symptoms from the exposure to mould in indoor environments are:

• Runny nose
• Eye Irritation
• Coughs
• Congestion’s
• Aggravation of Asthma
• Headache
• Flu-like Symptoms
• Fatigue & Skin Rash

The best way to remove mould depends on where the mould is growing. Mould can be removed from non-porous surfaces like tile, metal and glass by simply scrubbing with an anti-microbial cleanser. It’s more difficult to remove mould from semi-porous substances, like wood. Sometimes mould cannot be adequately removed from wooden surfaces and instead the wood must be removed and replaced. Other times, wood can be sanded to remove mould or the mould can be encapsulated (covered with a sealant). We recommend only professionals sand mouldy wood, since the process disperses hundreds of thousands of mould spores into the air, where they are easily inhaled, exposing you to serious health risks.

It’s usually impossible to remove mould from porous substances like drywall and carpet, so those items must be removed and replaced. Care must be taken when removing mouldy materials so that you don’t inhale hazardous mould spores and so that you don’t inadvertently spread mould spores to other areas of the home. It is recommended that you consult with a mould removal professional before attempting to remove mould from your home.