If you have vermiculite-based insulation in your attic, some may have fallen inside your walls over time. Therefore, you should seal cracks and holes with caulking around:. From: Health risks of asbestos , Government of Canada. You cannot tell if a product contains asbestos just by looking at it.
The only way to tell is to have it tested by a laboratory. No, not always. Products in good condition not deteriorating, etc. If a material shows signs of damage such as tears, cracks or water damage, talk to a professional consultant. When examining the product, don't touch it as you may unintentionally release fibres into the air.
No, you should not. Asbestos fibres can easily become air borne, creating a risk of serious illness if proper precautions are not taken. If you suspect there might be asbestos containing material and before renovations can take place, the product or material must be tested. If there is asbestos is present, proper procedures must be used before the material can be disturbed removed, or cut.
In many areas, there are strict regulations that define the procedures that must be used when working with different types of asbestos. Even if the work is to be done outdoors, these requirements must be followed.
For example, in Ontario, any worker that is involved in an asbestos abatement project must have received proper training. If the worker is involved in a type 3 operation , the worker must have received training that is approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. If you are renovating an older house, be alert to unexpected sources of asbestos.
Get a professional opinion before starting the renovation and hire a professional to conduct the removal. Power sanding floor tiles, plaster walls or partitions made partly from asbestos can release dangerous quantities of inhalable fibres into the air.
To find a professional who can test a sample of your material for asbestos, see Directory of Qualified Laboratories in BC www. These contractors use specialized and personal protective equipment and professional methods for removing asbestos dust and disposing of the material safely.
Skip to main content. Print Feedback Email a link Share. Asbestos: When Should I Worry? Last Updated:. July Download PDF:. What is asbestos? Which health problems are caused by asbestos? Once again, material in good condition need not be sampled unless it is likely to be disturbed.
Professional correction or abatement contractors repair or remove asbestos materials. Some firms offer combinations of testing, assessment, and correction. A professional hired to assess the need for corrective action should not be connected with an asbestos-correction firm. It is better to use two different firms so there is no conflict of interest. Services vary from one area to another around the country.
The federal government has training courses for asbestos professionals around the country. Some state and local governments also have or require training or certification courses. Ask asbestos professionals to document their completion of federal or state-approved training.
Each person performing work in your home should provide proof of training and licensing in asbestos work, such as completion of EPA-approved training.
State and local health departments or EPA regional offices may have listings of licensed professionals in your area. If you have a problem that requires the services of asbestos professionals, check their credentials carefully.
Hire professionals who are trained, experienced, reputable, and accredited - especially if accreditation is required by state or local laws.
Before hiring a professional, ask for references from previous clients. Find out if they were satisfied. Ask whether the professional has handled similar situations. Get cost estimates from several professionals, as the charges for these services can vary.
Though private homes are usually not covered by the asbestos regulations that apply to schools and public buildings, professionals should still use procedures described during federal or state-approved training. Homeowners should be alert to the chance of misleading claims by asbestos consultants and contractors. There have been reports of firms incorrectly claiming that asbestos materials in homes must be replaced.
In other cases, firms have encouraged unnecessary removals or performed them improperly. Unnecessary removals are a waste of money. Improper removals may actually increase the health risks to you and your family. To guard against this, know what services are available and what procedures and precautions are needed to do the job properly. In addition to general asbestos contractors, you may select a roofing, flooring, or plumbing contractor trained to handle asbestos when it is necessary to remove and replace roofing, flooring, siding, or asbestos-cement pipe that is part of a water system.
Normally, roofing and flooring contractors are exempt from state and local licensing requirements because they do not perform any other asbestos-correction work. Illinois residents call Enclose a stamped, business-size, self-addressed envelope. Asbestos-containing automobile brake pads and linings, clutch facings, and gaskets should be repaired and replaced only by a professional using special protective equipment.
Many of these products are now available without asbestos. Do not dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. These steps will disturb tiny asbestos fibers and may release them into the air. Remove dust by wet mopping or with a special HEPA vacuum cleaner used by trained asbestos contractors.
For more information, contact your local American Lung Association at their website at www. A teletypewriter TTY for the hearing impaired is available at To find out whether your state has a training and certification program for asbestos removal contractors, and for information on EPA's asbestos programs, call the EPA at For more information on asbestos identification and control activities, contact the Asbestos Coordinator in the EPA Regional Office for your region, or your state or local health department.
This document may be reproduced without change, in whole or in part, without permission, except for use as advertising material or product endorsement. Any such reproduction should credit the American Lung Association, the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the U. Environmental Protection Agency. The use of all or any part of this document in a deceptive or inaccurate manner or for purposes of endorsing a particular product may be subject to appropriate legal action.
Statement by the American Lung Association: The Statements in this brochure are based in part upon the results of a workshop concerning asbestos in the home which was sponsored by the U. The sponsors believe that this brochure provides an accurate summary of useful information discussed at the workshop and obtained from other sources. However, ALA did not develop the underlying information used to create the brochure and does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of such information.
ALA emphasizes that asbestos should not be handled, sampled, removed or repaired by anyone other than a qualified professional. The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government.
CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours.
Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees. From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of: lung cancer: -- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and -- asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.
These materials may release asbestos fibers if damaged, repaired, or removed improperly. Sanding tiles can release fibers. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Environmental health. Home Environmental health. Asbestos in the home. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Risks of existing asbestos Diseases associated with asbestos Asbestos products found around the home Asbestos in automotive parts Use professional help to remove asbestos Take precautions when removing asbestos Disposal of asbestos cement products Where to get help.
Risks of existing asbestos Asbestos only poses a risk to health when asbestos fibres are breathed in. Diseases associated with asbestos Most people who develop asbestos-related diseases have worked on jobs where they frequently breathed in large amounts of asbestos fibres.
Asbestos exposure has been linked to a range of diseases including: Pleural plaques — thickened patches of scar tissue on the pleura lining of the lung Asbestosis — progressive scar tissue inside the lungs that impairs breathing Lung cancer — can develop decades after asbestos exposure.
Smokers and people with asbestosis are most susceptible Mesothelioma — a type of cancer that affects the pleura, the covering of the lung and lining of the chest wall and diaphragm.
It can also develop decades after asbestos exposure. Asbestos products found around the home Asbestos can be loosely or firmly bound. In older homes, firmly bound asbestos may be found in: Exterior fibre cement cladding AC or fibro and weatherboards Artificial brick cladding Flexible building boards — eave linings, bathroom linings, cement tile underlay Corrugated cement roofing Flue pipes Architectural cement pipe columns Textured paint Vinyl floor tiles or coverings.
However, it is possible that loose asbestos fibres may have been used as: Insulation on hot water pipes Insulation in old domestic heaters Insulation in stoves Ceiling insulation products. As a guide, houses that were built: Before the mids are highly likely to have asbestos-containing products Between the mids and may have asbestos-containing products After are unlikely to have asbestos-containing products. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing have produced a booklet on Identifying asbestos in your home pdf Asbestos in automotive parts Asbestos has also been used by the automotive industry.
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