I have been exposed to 5% Chrysotile containing popcorn ceiling removal dust.:smack: What can I do to reduce my chances of developing mesothelioma, or other asbestos related sicknesses? How effective is a pharmacy bought face mask against inhaling asbestos fibers? I appreciate your answers, and any other asbestos related info anyone would be willing to offer. Thanks!
Stop exposing yourself to it. There’s no magic pill, or exercise, or anything else that will reduce your chances.
Just stop exposing yourself to it, and let your body filter out the bad stuff, and cross your fingers.
The dust mask will not provide any protection.
Asbestosis is a dose-response disease so its unlikely that a small exposure would result in this.
It only takes one fiber to cause mesothelioma, but Chrysotile is a curvy fiber so it would be harder to cause the disease.
Hey, cool factoid. Is this common knowledge? Or do you have a cite I could check out (for personal enrichment). I didn’t realize a single fiber of anything could do that kind of irreparable damage…
Chrysotile is not as dangerous as some forms, particularly crocidilite, which has fibers associated firmly with causing mesothelioma, which is always deadly. The popcorn ceiling is usually chrysotile. Leave it alone and have it professionally removed when it is time to remove it.
Chrysotile (white asbestos) is generally considered the least dangerous, but on the other hand most consumers will not encounter the other types much. For a mask, you’d need something made for asbestos, a cheap Walgreen’s mask won’t cut it.
May I ask how this happened and what you specifically did? This is a sort of concern right now for me as well (popcorn sagging due to water leak).
while any mask might be better than none, only a mask made for asbestos will protect you.
i agree that Chrysotile is the likely type in the ceiling (if it contains asbestos) and that is the least dangerous.
a major issue is that you and anything in the room might/will get asbestos on it. if you don’t follow proper procedures in removal you will transport asbestos into the rest of the house (even just on yourself) where people will not be using masks.
there are good methods to prevent exposure from asbestos in building structure. there are good methods for safe removal and disposal.
No mask will protect you. A respirator with a proper filter is what is used.
Sorry I never checked back on the thread. The lab facility I work in has asbestos remaining in some out of the way areas, meaning we go through annual training in its proper handling (or in my case on how to avoid it). The handout we get every year states the above fact and has the CDC and the American Thoracic Society as the references, but doesn’t not state an individual document.
The training materials (after re-reading it) states that the risk of mesothelioma goes up with with the amount of asbestos exposure, but that the disease can be caused by a single fiber.
How reliable are the testing companies? I had my bathroom (est 1977) ceiling popcorn tested and they came back with the same results.
Given that my bathroom ceiling has had loose popcorn since I moved in, why would they not have mentioned that in the disclosure or in the inspection? Or am I on the route to lung disease?
Respirators still fall under the term “mask” as it covers the face to do its job.
My point was that the paper mask will stop very little they are more of a decoration than a safety device.
Diseases caused from asbestos are generally over a long period of time, and alot of these diseases are with people who have been working with asbestos. A little bit of dust will probably not harm you, although you wouldn’t want to expose yourself to it on purpose, it can happen without you realizing it.
You could compare it to smoking…if you just have 1 cigarette chances are you won’t develop lung cancer, but the longer you smoke the higher the risk you have.
Not all popcorn ceiling has asbestos in it. To know for you the only thing you can do is have it tested. Just by looking at it, there is no way to tell. On the whole homes built around the 1980’s used asbestos in ceilings, walls, etc, until it was banned, but even years later this product could be found on store shelves, and it was used. So instead of worrying about it…just get it tested
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