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Asbestos is another hidden hazard in many homes. Asbestos is a mineral fiber. In the past, asbestos fibers were used for insulation, heat-resistant clothing, roofing and fireproofing because of its strength and resistance to heat. Today, products have to be labeled as containing asbestos. Asbestos-type materials can still be found on or in:
- Heating equipment, fireplaces, wood-/coal-burning stoves and their components.
- Resilient floor tiles, their backings and adhesives.
- Cement sheets, millboard and paper used as insulation around fireplaces and stoves.
- Roofing and siding shingles.
- Soundproofing or decorative materials sprayed on walls and ceilings.
- Patching and joint compounds for walls and ceilings, and textured paints.
- Artificial ashes and embers in gas-fired fireplaces.
What are the health dangers?
The mere presence of asbestos materials in a home is usually not a serious problem or hazard. The danger is that asbestos materials may be disturbed or crumble over time, causing the fibers to be released into the air. Asbestos materials that crumble easily if handled, or that have been sawed, scraped or sanded into a powder pose the greatest danger.
Studies have shown that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer; mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity; and lungs being scarred with fibrous tissue. The risk of these cancers increases with the number of asbestos fibers inhaled. Smokers are even more at risk when inhaling asbestos fibers. Symptoms of the diseases do not usually appear until 20 to 30 years after the first exposure of the inhaled asbestos fibers. Most people who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers for a long time. However, there is no known safe exposure to asbestosis.
What can I do about asbestos?
The best thing to do with asbestos materials in good condition is to leave them alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Disturbing them may create a health hazard where none existed.
The only way to know if asbestos materials have been disturbed or damaged is to have your home inspected by qualified asbestos professionals. These experts can conduct an inspection, take samples of the suspected material and advise about what corrections, if any, are needed. State and local health departments or the EPA regional offices have listings of licensed asbestos professionals in your area. If you are removing products with asbestos by yourself, check with your state environmental office to see what rules you must follow to dispose of the materials safely.
There are some other steps you, as a homeowner, can take:
- Take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos materials.
- Keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged materials that may contain asbestos.
- Have any major removal and/or repair of asbestos done by professionals trained and qualified in asbestos handling.
- Do not sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. This disturbs tiny asbestos fibers and may release them into the air you breathe. Likewise, don't saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos-containing materials.
- Don't use abrasive pads or brushes to strip wax from asbestos flooring material, and never use a power stripper on a dry floor. When asbestos flooring needs to be replaced, install new floor covering over it if possible.
- Don't track asbestos-containing material through the house-if you do, clean it with a wet mop. If it's a large area, have an asbestos professional do the cleaning.
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External Sources
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American Cancer Society
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Environmental Protection Agency
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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