Investigations: A Word of Caution

When I was activity doing paranormal investigations I rarely went into old buildings that were falling apart. A good rule of thumb is if the building is crumbling around a person—they shouldn’t be there.

The reason for this is old buildings—ones built before 1978—are laced with asbestos.

When a product containing asbestos is disturbed—tiny fibers are released into the air. When these fibers are breathed in they become trapped in the lungs and then depending upon the type can stay in the lungs for many years.

Over time these fibers can cause serious health problems.

Some of which are:

Asbestosis—an inflammation of the lungs that causes shortness of breath and coughing. Lung becomes scarred making it hard to breath.

Mesothelioma—a rare lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen.

Plural plaques—this condition is a thickening of the membranes that surround the lungs, which can result in the lungs filling with fluid.

Lung cancer--recent research indicates that exposure to asbestos may also cause other cancers—ranging from brain, throat, kidney, gall bladder etc.

The most common material asbestos can be found in is insulation. This can be ceiling insulation; ductwork insulation as well as roofing and siding insulation.

Asbestos was also used in electrical fixtures and electrical insulators, windows were often laced with it and vinyl floor tiles and ceiling tiles. Popcorn textured ceiling used asbestos.

Asbestos was also used in paints, coatings, adhesives and plastics.

So my attitude is why expose yourself to this risk? Paranormal activity can be found in many places. One does not need to go into dilapidated buildings in order to find ghosts.