What to do if you find asbestos in your home

Lloyd Wells is a freelance writer working with asbestos removal specialists Crucial Environmental.  We asked what to do if you find asbestos in your home:

If you suspect that you may have asbestos in your home, instruct a firm of asbestos-approved builders to take the appropriate steps for its removal and disposal.  Asbestos presents a serious health risk and should not be tackled by anyone other than qualified Asbestos professionals.

Whatever you do, if you find or think you’ve found asbestos-containing materials in your house, don’t touch it!

When asbestos-containing materials or items are snapped, broken up or scuffed, they produce fine dust that contains dangerous asbestos fibres, so leave them well alone.  As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to deal with potential asbestos safely.

Asbestos Health Hazard

Many people think that asbestos is a problem dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, but asbestos can still be present today in any home built or remodelled before the year 2000.

When materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged, microscopic fibres are released into the air, and if these are inhaled into the lungs they can cause serious diseases.

These diseases often take years to develop, but once diagnosed, it’s very often too late for the patient to be treated.

Some asbestos facts:

• You can’t see or smell asbestos fibres in the air.
• Asbestos is only dangerous when the microscopic fibres are released into the air and inhaled.
• The release of fibres can cause asbestos exposure which, over time, can lead to serious health conditions.
• Asbestos material is not dangerous or risky if it’s in a good condition and is situated in places where it can’t be broken or damaged.
• People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos fibres have a far greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Where are you likely to find asbestos in your home?

The sorts of places in your home where you’re likely to find asbestos-containing materials are in the roof of your garage or shed, under the eaves, in ceilings and some doors, in fire blankets, insulation panels and partition walls, lagging, floor tiles, textured coatings, asbestos cement products, roofing felt, central heating flues and some storage heaters.

But don’t panic because many asbestos-containing materials are not harmful at all, as long as they’ve not been damaged or disturbed.

In fact, if the material shows no signs of wear and tear, it can be left where it is. A good example of this is asbestos ceilings that are in good condition and are covered with paint.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking of renovating your house and need to remove materials that may contain asbestos, you should seek the advice of a professional.  If you’re unsure, get a professional out to do asbestos testing to confirm if there are asbestos products present in your property.

Whatever you do, if you have to work with, or handle, asbestos – DO NOT use any power tools, abrasive cutting or sanding discs, compressed air, or high-pressure hoses, as this will almost certainly release the highly dangerous asbestos fibers.

For further advice, there’s a wealth of official information available here. You may also like to contact an asbestos inspector for a home inspection and valuable expert assistance.

What dangerous diseases can asbestos cause?

There are several types of disease caused by exposure to asbestos: 

Mesothelioma: This is a cancerous disease that affects the lining, or pleura, of the lungs and/or the lining, or peritoneum, of the lower digestive tract. Mesothelioma is exclusively linked to exposure to asbestos and by the time it’s discovered, there’s normally no hope of recovery.

Lung cancer: Asbestos-related lung cancer is almost identical to the lung cancer we associate with smoking. Although the disease can be kept at bay for a time, it’s almost always fatal.

Asbestosis: When exposed to asbestos over a long period of time, asbestosis can develop. This disease results in a scarring condition of the lungs and causes progressive shortness of breath. In severe cases it can be fatal.

Pleural thickening: Pleural thickening occurs where someone is heavily exposed to asbestos. It results in a thickening and swelling of the lungs, causing shortness of breath and pain and discomfort in the chest.

It is worth pointing out that asbestos-related deaths usually only occur after long-term exposure to the raw material.

How does Brexit vote affect the regulations and management of asbestos in homes in the UK?

The Brexit vote investment risk has caused uncertainty regarding the regulations and management of asbestos in homes in the UK. With potential changes in trade agreements and policies, there is concern about how the handling of asbestos will be affected, impacting the safety and health of residents.

How should you deal responsibly with asbestos removal from your property?

If you’re having some decorating or refurbishment work done in your home and you know the location of asbestos-containing material, you should instruct a firm of asbestos-approved builders to take the appropriate steps for its removal and disposal.

This includes asbestos in any contaminated building materials, dust, rubble, personal protective equipment and any cloths that have been used for cleaning purposes; it all presents a health risk.

The presence of asbestos should be dealt with via professionals who will follow proper procedures in removing asbestos in the home.

The asbestos waste is carefully placed in approved asbestos containers, double wrapped and properly labelled to prevent the release of any asbestos dust, which can cause asbestos fibers in the air.

A red inner bag is commonly used, together with a second outer bag. Each protective wrap has asbestos warning labels and the appropriate hazard signs.

Solid asbestos cement sheets and any textured coatings that have not been broken into pieces are double-wrapped in 1000-gauge polythene sheeting and labelled accordingly.

Asbestos waste should only be handled by a licensed disposal site. Your local authority can provide details of these for you. It also needs to be transported in suitable containers that prevent the release of fibres while in transit. 

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Sources

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/cement.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/roofing-felt.htm