# Asbestos in popcorn ceiling? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850 "2012-12-12T18:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![capak93](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@capak93](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capak93)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/1 "2012-12-12T18:44:05Z")
My home was built in 1978. The other day, I accidentally scraped the ceiling-light scrape and some dust came out. Should I be concerned about asbestos? I live in Canada ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/2 "2012-12-12T18:54:07Z")
If your house was in the U.S. I would say you very likely have asbestos. 1979 was when the regulations changed and they did away with it. I don’t know when Canada changed their regulations though. If it was the same as the U.S. then you’ve got a problem. If it was one year earlier (or more) then you’re fine. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/3 "2012-12-12T19:30:22Z")
Asbestos appears to be a provincial issue. Ontario banned asbestos in certain applications beginning in [1977](http://www.aohi.ca/asbestos.htm). > [@](#): > > Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977. What province are you in? ---
**Author:** ![capak93](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@capak93](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capak93)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/4 "2012-12-12T19:35:33Z")
Alberta ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/5 "2012-12-12T19:57:15Z")
From the [Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual](http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/Asbestos-Abatement-Manual.pdf) (PDF!): > [@](#): > > March 1977 Alberta Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Regulations > Supply and return air may not pass over surfaces containing asbestos > except for the surfaces of fire stops. This provision was incorporated into > the 1978 Alberta Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Code. > > May 1981 Alberta Building Code > No product that has a potential for releasing asbestos fibres in a building > may be installed apart from asbestos cement board and asbestos cement > pipe (as long as the latter two were not used in a supply or return air > system). > > June 1985 Alberta Building Code > Asbestos may not be used in air distribution systems or equipment in a > form or location where asbestos fibres could enter the air supply or return > systems. > > February 1987 Standata 85-DR-009 > Alberta became a signatory to an International Labour Organization > convention banning the spray application of asbestos products and > products containing crocidolite. > > September 1991 Alberta Building Code > > - A condition where there is a potential for asbestos fibres to be > released in a building may be declared by the Director to be an unsafe > condition. > - The use of materials containing crocidolite is prohibited. > - Spray application of asbestos products is prohibited. > - In buildings being altered or renovated, any materials having the > potential for releasing asbestos fibres in the area of alteration or > renovation must be encapsulated, enclosed or removed. > - In buildings to be demolished, materials having the potential for > releasing asbestos fibres must first be removed. So, it appears to _me_ anyway, that you _may_ have asbestos in your home. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/6 "2012-12-12T20:43:16Z")
while you may have asbestos in your ceiling surface treatment, i wouldn’t be concerned about scraping off small amounts (a kernel or two). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/7 "2012-12-12T21:12:03Z")
You need to test what was scraped off to determine if it has asbestos. I suppose an environmental lab could do it for you. If it does have asbestos, it is best to have a contractor certified in asbestos removal deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/8 "2012-12-12T21:20:07Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > If it does have asbestos, it is best to have a contractor certified in asbestos removal deal with it. In much the same way it is best to have a surgeon perform surgery, yes. Get it tested and if it’s asbestos, get a certified asbestos abatement team in to remove it. Otherwise, you may have a good deal of difficulty selling your house, when the time comes. I know for a fact that if I was buying a house that was built during the years asbestos was commonly used and the seller could not provide certification that it had been properly removed, I’d move on. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/9 "2012-12-13T00:01:50Z")
If you’re asking if you should be concerned about your health, then the answer is no. The big danger of asbestos is long term exposure. The small amount you’re talking about isn’t a problem unless you do the same thing day after day. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/10 "2012-12-13T01:09:53Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > If you’re asking if you should be concerned about your health, then the answer is no. The big danger of asbestos is long term exposure. The small amount you’re talking about isn’t a problem unless you do the same thing day after day. The danger is when it becomes ‘friable’, that is, when it becomes brittle and begins flaking away so that there are very small particles in the air that can be breathed in. As far as day to day safety is concerned, hitting it with paint from a paint sprayer will seal it between the paint layer and the ceiling. I probably don’t have to warn you not to throw darts or golf balls at the ceiling. Or to press bottle caps into it. (I got to take asbestos test samples at a college dorm, once.) I’m not sure if there will be any difficulty selling the house, if and when you want to do that. In the US, if you were to demolish the house, you’d be required to test for asbestos and remove any found, along with any lead based paint (there’s a scanner that can check for that), any fluorescent lights with mercury in them, and mercury light balasts, etc. The removed materials would have to be transported and disposed of as hazardous waste. But that’s because the demolition would kick asbestos dust into the air, putting the demolition crew at risk. Not at immediate risk, mind you. The risk is cumulative. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asbestos-in-popcorn-ceiling/643850/11 "2012-12-13T04:49:08Z")
When my wife and I were looking for a new home last year we found a house and put an offer on it. Prior to closing we had the popcorn ceilings tested for asbestos and it came up positive and we walked away from the house. The testing was fairly inexpensive, I think $125 to get it tested. Here are a couple of things I found out while deciding what to do: 1: Although asbestos in ceilings was banned in 1978, but the ban EXCLUDED popcorn martial already produced. So we were told that houses built up until 1982 were a possible problem. 2: getting the contaminated stuff removed is very, very expensive. You can do it yourself, but the risks are high. Bite the bullet and get a professional to do it. 3: Providing you don’t disturb the ceiling, you probably have nothing to fear. 4: in the US at least, once you are aware that your home contains asbestos you are required by law to disclose that fact to any potential buyer. This in turn makes a sale difficult or not impossible.