By: Jeff
March 2024
Homes built before the 1980s could expose homeowners, their families and
others to asbestos. It may hide in cement, floor tiles, insulation,
walls and pipes. Our Guide to Asbestos in the Home can help protect you
and others from exposure. If you’re doing work on your home, like
taking down walls or replacing floor tiles, take caution. You could
contaminate the air with toxic asbestos fibers. Our Guide to Asbestos
in the Home offers information about asbestos, its dangers, what to do
if you suspect it’s in your home, the dos and don’ts when handling
asbestos and other useful information to keep you, your family and
others safe in your home. Is Asbestos in Your House Dangerous? Canadian
chrysotile asbestos close-up Close-up image of Canadian chrysotile shows
the fibrous composition of the mineral and how easily the fibers can
become airborne. When residential construction products made with
asbestos, a mineral composed of thin fibers, are damaged, those fibers
become airborne. Asbestos fibers pose a danger to anyone who inhales
them. After years of exposure to those fibers, people may develop a
cancer known as mesothelioma, which forms tumors on the lining of the
lungs, abdomen or heart. Quick Fact Most asbestos-related diseases are
diagnosed at least 15 years after exposure. Source: American Cancer
Society Where Can Asbestos Be Found in Your House? Diagram of Where
Asbestos Can be Found in a Home Asbestos use has declined significantly
since the late 1970s, when the U.S. banned spray-on asbestos and several
other uses. However, many older homes still contain asbestos. If you
have an older home, asbestos may be found in various building materials
used in your house, such as paint, insulation and floor tiles. Many U.S.
homes and public structures, such as schools, government housing and
office buildings built before the 1980s, contain asbestos in: Cement
asbestos board siding/undersheeting Asbestos roofing felt for shingles
Asbestos insulation around steam pipes Some vinyl floor tiles Textured
paint Asbestos-containing vermiculite insulation While many residential
uses for asbestos were phased out, it remains legal in the U.S. for more
than a dozen applications. Common Exposure Scenarios Asbestos exposure
in your home can occur in different ways: DIY renovation, drilling
through drywall or replacing an old pipe. The following scenarios
describe how homeowners can expose themselves to asbestos at home.
Loose insulation in a dark attic of an older home Attic insulation in
older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks.
Attic Renovation While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home, John
found piles of brown pebble-like insulation. He decided to replace the
existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation to save money in the
winter months. He scooped the loose insulation into some garbage bags
and installed the new material. John had no idea that his attic was
insulated with asbestos-containing vermiculite. By disturbing the
material, he spread asbestos fibers in the air. John should have left
the insulation alone and had it tested for asbestos before disturbing
it. Brake and disc of a ca Older brakes and foreign-made brakes may
contain asbestos. Brake Dust in Home Garage Ralph loves working on his
1965 Corvette Stingray. When his brakes started to squeal, Ralph wanted
to replace them in his own garage. After removing the rear tires, he saw
the brake drums were covered in dust. He banged the sides with a hammer
and blew off the dust with an air compressor. Because some brake
components contain asbestos, spraying them with compressed air can
release toxic fibers into the air. Ralph should have taken his car to
the shop for service or wiped down the brake drums gently with a wet
cloth. Drywall dust and loose fibers Drilling into drywall containing
asbestos will release fibers into the air. Drilling into Asbestos in
Drywall Erica recently won a painting at a silent auction and couldn’t
wait to bring it home and hang it in her living room. She measured
carefully and used a drill to install drywall anchors to keep the
painting in place. The painting wasn’t level, so she had to drill a few
more holes before it hung perfectly. She had no idea her home was built
with asbestos-containing drywall. When she drilled through the wall to
hang her painting, asbestos fibers from the drywall escaped into her
living room. Erica should have known about the asbestos in her walls and
left it alone. Broken floor tiles during a home remodel Loose vinyl
tiles can expose asbestos-containing adhesive. Removing Vinyl Floor
Tiles Herman just purchased a 1950s fixer-upper in his home town, and
his first project was upgrading the master bathroom. He decided to start
by removing the vinyl floor tile. He removed the existing tiles with a
scraper and installed the new tile. Asbestos was a common ingredient in
vinyl floor tiles in the 1950s. Using a scraper to remove the old
flooring can release dangerous asbestos fibers. Herman should have
installed the new tile over it. Homeowner scraping popcorn ceiling
texture in a house Scraping a popcorn ceiling containing asbestos can be
hazardous without proper masks and ventilation. Popcorn Ceiling Removal
Janine was tired of the popcorn texture on the ceilings in her home, so
she decided to scrape it off and repaint with a smooth finish. After
putting on eye protection and a dust mask, she grabbed her ladder and
got to work. After lots of scraping, a little sanding and some careful
painting, she was finally done. Many textured ceiling finishes,
including popcorn ceilings, have concealed asbestos. Scraping off the
popcorn finish released microscopic asbestos fibers that easily passed
through Janine’s dust mask. She should have hired a professional trained
in safely removing asbestos hazards. Although it is the safest option,
hiring asbestos abatement professionals can be expensive. However,
before removing the entire popcorn surface, homeowners can scrape off a
sample and perform home testing with a store-bought kit. Removing even a
small piece for testing still requires protection, such as eye
protection and an N95 respirator. Insulated pipe being cut Asbestos
insulation around pipes is not uncommon, and cutting the insulation
could disperse asbestos fibers. Cutting Insulation on Pipes When fixing
up the basement of his late-1800s Victorian home, Brent noticed the
insulation around some of the hot water pipes was starting to
deteriorate. Not wanting to lose any heat efficiency, he cut the old
insulation with a utility knife and replaced it with new fiberglass
insulation. Brent should have known that many older plumbing systems
are wrapped in asbestos insulation. The insulation may have already
posed an exposure risk before he started the project, but cutting the
damaged material released even more fibers into the air. Brent should
have hired an asbestos professional to seal the asbestos insulation.
What Can I Do About Asbestos in My Home? The Environmental Protection
Agency recommends testing your home for asbestos if the existing
building materials are damaged or you plan on disturbing them.
Situations where testing is recommended include having damaged drywall
or insulation, or if you’re planning on remodeling. Disturbing these
building materials can release asbestos fibers into the air. Generally,
you can’t tell which materials contain asbestos unless they’re labeled.
If the building materials are in good condition or if you’re not
planning a home remodel, testing is generally not required. If you
find something in your home that you suspect is asbestos, don’t touch
it. Even if the material is in good condition, the best option is to
leave it alone. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
if the material appears damaged or future activities could disturb it,
contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional. Limit access to
the area until a professional can confirm the presence of asbestos. The
best way to avoid asbestos exposure is to be knowledgeable about the
asbestos materials in your home, including their locations and current
condition. Bottom of a metal sink, covered in insulation made with
asbestos Asbestos-containing insulation on the underside of a metal sink
to prevent condensation can become brittle over time. How Can I Tell if
a Material in My House Is Asbestos? It’s extremely difficult to identify
asbestos just by looking at it, so you need to send samples to a lab for
testing. Homeowners can collect samples and have them tested, but it’s
much safer for you and your family to hire a trained asbestos
professional for the job. Search for “asbestos inspection” online to
find a licensed expert in your area. The U.S. Department of Commerce
offers a list of accredited asbestos laboratories online. Buying a New
Home & Asbestos Exposure 0:35 EXCLUSIVE CONTENT | Sean Marchese, MS,
RN: Buying a New Home & Asbestos Exposure What Does Asbestos Look
Like? Asbestos ore in its natural form may appear in a range of colors,
including white, green, blue and brown. When asbestos is processed it
breaks down into fluffy fibers. While asbestos in household products is
not easily identified by sight alone, sometimes it is possible to see
asbestos fibers embedded in damaged asbestos-containing materials. Tiny
asbestos fibers often end up in household products when asbestos is
mixed with other materials, such as plastic or cement. When these
materials are damaged, small asbestos fibers that look like fuzzy pieces
of fraying fabric may be visible. However, seeing fibers protruding from
a product does not mean it contains asbestos. Only testing can confirm
the presence of asbestos. How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Harmful? In
general, it takes a lot of repeated exposure to asbestos for related
conditions to develop. It is rare for someone to get sick from asbestos
products in their home, but it is possible. Most people who develop
asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos at work for years.
About 20% of heavily exposed asbestos workers end up developing a
related condition. Still, heavy short-term asbestos exposures have been
known to cause disease. According to a National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health report on asbestos, “No evidence of a
threshold or safe level of exposure has been found.” Asbestos Safety
Dos and Don’ts If you own an older home, take every precaution to avoid
damaging materials that may contain asbestos. Even if a repair seems
minor, you should hire a professional when asbestos may be present.
Improper handling of safely managed asbestos can create an exposure risk
where there was none before. Dos Avoid any contact with dangerous
asbestos materials. Take every precaution not to damage any materials
that may contain asbestos. Talk to your home inspector or real estate
agent about any known asbestos risks in your home. Only hire trained
professionals for asbestos inspections, testing, repairs or removal. If
you are planning on a demolition, contact the appropriate regulatory
agency in your local or state government. Don’ts Don’t saw, sand,
scrape, drill or disturb materials that may contain asbestos. Don’t
sweep, vacuum or dust debris that may contain asbestos. Don’t collect
asbestos samples for testing without proper training. Don’t perform any
work on or near asbestos materials unless you’re trained and certified.
Don’t remove asbestos unless repair or concealment is impossible, and
there’s a high risk for exposure. Don’t dispose of asbestos materials
with normal household waste. How Do I Get Tested for Possible Exposure
to Asbestos? If you are concerned that you were exposed to asbestos,
start by talking to your primary care physician. There is no test to
determine if you’ve been exposed to asbestos, but there are tests to
detect asbestos-related diseases. Your doctor can order imaging scans
that reveal signs of asbestos-related disease. Asbestos-related
conditions are difficult to detect, and not all primary care doctors
have the tools and experience to diagnose them. If you know for certain
that you were exposed to asbestos, it is a good idea to seek annual
screenings from a qualified lung specialist such as an occupational
pulmonologist. Most asbestos-related diseases are diagnosed at least 15
years after exposure. Quick Fact Asbestos is the No. 1 cause of
mesothelioma. Source: National Cancer Institute How Much Does Asbestos
Testing Cost? The most popular testing method, Polarized Light
Microscopy (PLM), can range from $20 to $100 per sample. Some labs use
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which is more expensive. The
cost of asbestos testing varies depending on the number of samples
tested and the methods used. DIY test kits require you to mail samples
to an accredited lab, which may charge an additional fee that is
typically around $40 for analysis. However, if you collect samples, you
can create exposure risks. It’s best to hire a certified professional.
The total cost of labor can run between $350 and $600 — a small price to
pay for peace of mind that the job will be safely completed. Label of a
do-it-yourself asbestos testing kit by Home Diagnostics Do-it-yourself
asbestos testing kits could become hazardous in the hands of a person
not trained in proper asbestos handling. What Happens if I Violate
Asbestos Laws? Any activity involving asbestos must follow U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations as well as any state
asbestos laws. Some asbestos violations result in written warnings.
Others can bring criminal charges, prison time or daily civil penalties
as high as $25,000 for each violation, depending on the severity of the infraction.