Hi, New here…found this place looking for info on asbestos and not I can’t find the thread I was looking for so here is a new one.
We own a house built in 1915. I think there is loose fill asbestos around a ventilation pipe in the kitchen. My cat has been up there (there is a shelf that goes across) and looks like she has disturbed it. I’m certain I have vacuumed up this stuff, swept it up (thought it was maybe dryer lint i had dropped) and even dumped the vacuum canister when it is full and all of that stuff blows back in my face.
I’ve shown my husband who tells me to just leave it alone. Says he will cover it up…he’s in no rush. I am terrified. We both smoke…
Since he won’t do anything to fix this problem or even get it tested, should i start getting tests or xrays at doctor now? I’m certain the cat has carried this crap all over the house, and since it is right above our current stove, we might even have eaten some of it (doubtful but whatever.)
Any advice? Should I just hire a testing company to come in myself without his ok? Should i try to get some in a safe container and ship it to be tested?? How much danger are we in?? We know they used asbestos because it is wrapped around the pipes in basement but that is considered safe. THis is just loose…looks like gray fibrous dryer lint all around the hole where the vent pipe went…
Thanks in advance… If I can figure out how to link a pic I will. It’s dark in that corner but you can still see it…
I don’t know the first thing about your marriage or whether you and he generally require permission from one another before taking steps like this. A quick Google suggests that testing can cost anywhere from $80 to $2000, and removal would probably be at least as much beyond that. I would recommend googling for a state licensed asbestos removal specialist near you, and asking them for information, especially costs. Once you’re fully informed, bring it up with your husband.
It seems likely you are NOT at high risk because of the situation you describe, though you may be at some risk. It’s worth making some inquiries, especially if those inquiries are free. You shouldn’t have to ask your husband for permission to do that. If a basic inspection and/or sample testing will incur costs, well, it’s up to you to decide how much you feel comfortable spending without first consulting your husband.
“Loose Fill” asbestos is dangerous because it is “unencapsulated”. That means it can become airborne as particles and enter the respiratory system. You need to address this now by getting it assessed and then taken care of in the proper way.
Lose fluffy asbestos should be removed (by a trained, licensed professional) or encapsulated. A trained professional can probably tell whether it’s asbestos by looking at it. Maybe it isn’t asbestos, and you’ve been working for no reason.
Don’t wait for your husband to get around to it. Hire someone to check it out. That shouldn’t cost thousands. If it is asbestos, you have options, including building a box to contain it. I have old floor tiles that probably contain asbestos, I just had a new floor installed over it. Since that doesn’t disturb the old floor (we didn’t try to remove it) no special training was needed, and it cost the same as installing any other floating floor.
It’s also true that most people who develop mesothelioma have a LOT of exposure to asbestos, or to similar mineral fibers. And it usually takes many years to develop. People in their 70s get mesothelioma from exposure in their 40s. Don’t panic, but plan to do something about it.
Getting tested yourself - my lay opinion is that the main disease caused by asbestos - mesothelioma - can take a very long time to manifest [Wikipedia says 40 years!] which is consistent with the stories I’ve heard about asbestos mine workers and the casually exposed, so its unlikely your doctor will detect anything.
Your time is better spent getting professional assistance to confirm it is asbestos and then to remove and dispose of it safely.
You’ve already had one idiot-level incident with it, do you need another to confirm that you need someone who knows what they are doing to deal with it properly? From what you’ve said, your husband does not count as ‘someone who knows what they are doing’.
If you are concerned, and potential asbestos in your house is a fair reason, then your choices are basically to either get it sorted quickly or spend the next 40 years worrying about whether that cough is the first sign of a cancer that has a very high fatality rate and no reliable treatment.
Trivia note - the Midnight Oil song Blue Sky Mine is about the Wittenoom Asbestos Mine and the deaths of exposed workers.
While you are addressing health concerns, you might want to do something about this bit as well. Depending on how much you smoke and how contained the asbestos is, your smoking might kill you before the asbestos does.
I doubt that. What I see people getting in trouble for are things like contractors removing asbestos without a special licence or hiring day laborers to do a job that requires a licence. The OP has already disturbed the asbestos when she vacuumed and swept it up. Putting a loose piece in an asbestos testing kit isn’t likely to be breaking any laws.
OP, if I were in your shoes I’d go the test kit route. There’s a good chance it’s not asbestos, in which case you’d free yourself from a lot of stress this is causing you. If it does turn out to be asbestos, your husband may stop being so complacent in taking some action.
I wouldn’t recommend this in most cases, as messing with asbestos isn’t a good idea and this may take more time than hiring a professional will, but in this case it’s so loose the cat is playing with clumps of it and nothing else is being dome to rectify this issue in the mean time.
On further reading, it appears the title of the article I linked to is rather sensationalist: while formal asbestos mitigation work has a lot of regulations attached to it that need to be followed, pulling a sample for testing probably does not.
OTOH, I’ve seen asbestos mitigation worksites, and the steps they take - coveralls, P100 respirators, positive-pressure containment, and HEPA vacuum cleaners - sure make it seem like you don’t want to just casually pull off a chunk of fluff. If you really want to DIY, these guys list how to take a sample yourself (scroll halfway down the page to find the procedure). Precautions include gloves, a respirator, turning off all HVAC, laying down a plastic dropsheet, and wetting down the suspect material before cutting a sample from it, followed by scrupulous cleanup of the site (and yourself) after the work is done. They do specifically mention asking your municipality about how to dispose of asbestos-contaminated waste (your dropsheet, gloves, and other items).
I think you misread the purpose of that paragraph. It’s not suggesting that gathering a small sample to be submitted for testing is “removal” of asbestos. It mentions hiring “an asbestos abatement team.” it’s talking about the “formal asbestos mitigation work” you just mentioned.
Hmm. Loose fill asbestos around a vent pipe. Husband says he will cover it up.
Have you considered covering it up yourself using thick plastic and duct tape? If there are actual loose bits you’d be touching, wear a mask and goggles.
Asbestos exposure is somewhat like smoking. Some people smoke heavely and live to an old age and some die at a young age.
My dad was a ship engineer for 15 years. Worked 30+ years in the ice and cold storage industry as a operating engineer. And he smoked. Died at 79 of a heart attack. I shipped including training for around 4 years. Tore asbestos insulation off steam lines without a resperator. Then worked shore side in steam plants for a few years. I am 71.
No need to see a doctor now, you are not sick and he will not be able to tell you anything. Around 1980 when seeing my doctor I a told him of my exposure and asked if I should have routine testing. His answer was no, they would not be able to detect anything until I was sick. Also there are many sickness that asbestos can cause. mesothelioma is one of the last ones and occurs under 40 years. If you have many exposures you are clear after 40 years.
I would either close and seal off the area, or have it tested and taken care of properly. I would be more worried about the smoking than the asbestos.
I tested my popcorn ceiling and blown insulation and it wasn’t a big deal. They had me put a small amount in a zip lock baggie and bring it in. If I remember right it was under 100$ for the tests. I had a fake address ready in case they wanted that to track it but I don’t remember needing it. A week later they sent me an email
Another important point is that the value of your house could go down if the purchaser has to pay thousands for asbestos removal; worse if it’s been blowing into nooks and crannies around the house for decades, rather than a small contained installation. The longer it sits there, complete with cat playing with it, the worse it is. It can’t hurt to wrap it up until you can get professional help to remove it.
(I’ve seen a Holmes on Homes episode, to remove this stuff first they tape up plastic to the walls to make a containment area and airlock, air flow through fine filters, spray mist to help prevent “dust”, use masks and coveralls which get wiped down and bagged after the work is done, etc. Not trivial, not something to be done without training.)
Do not test for asbestos. If you do and your home tests positive (very likely that it will) you are required to disclose this information to potential buyers, which will likely impact your selling price.
Worrying about asbestos when you both smoke seems misguided in my opinion.