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Repair works being done on the front awnings of houses along Jalan Hitam Manis. Photo: The Strait Times
Works are afoot to replace the corrugated roof sheets of terraced houses in Chip Bee Gardens after asbestos was found in some of them. Find out below why this once common building materil is actually very hramful to health!
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals which have, among other traits, good thermal resistance, chemical stability and high tensile strength.
These qualities made it widely used in building and construction before it was banned in many countries from the 1980s due to its harmful effects on health.
Exposure to asbestos can cause serious lung diseases, including asbestosis (the thickening and scarring of lung tissue), lung cancer and mesothelioma (cancer of the chest and abdominal lining). Symptoms may take decades to manifest.
Explaining the carcinogenic nature of asbestos, Professor Philip Eng, a senior consultant respiratory physician at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, said: "The asbestos fibre is very light and can penetrate deep into the lungs. This can irritate the cells and cause them to mutate."
But doctors told The Straits Times that exposure to asbestos dust must be prolonged and in significant amounts for any harm to kick in.
"You need at least 10 to 20 years of continuous exposure to get asbestosis," said Associate Professor Suresh Pillai, senior consultant at the National University Hospital's emergency medicine department.
In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower oversees asbestos removal, while the National Environment Agency regulates its disposal .
Asbestos specialist and managing director of Stallion Engineering Contractor Andy Jiang, 32, said many buildings here built before 1991, including schools, landed properties and army camps, may contain asbestos.
It is often found in ceiling boards and corrugated roof sheets. He said: "As long as the material is in good condition, there won't be any problems. But if there are cracks or holes, I would advise removing them."
It is safe to stay home while asbestos removal is done next door by an approved asbestos removal contractor as the work area has to be covered up under regulations, Mr Jiang said.
But he added: "I would advise neighbours to shut their windows just as a precaution."
Adapted from an article written by Yeo Sam Jo for The Straits Times.