Asbestos in old wallpapers?

[Slottsfrun]

Anyone know what type of wallpapers might contain asbestos?

I have an older yellow wallpaper with some texture.
Tried soaking it, but it didn't seem to absorb the liquid so I think it might be some kind of old vinyl wallpaper.

Was it common for this type of wallpaper to contain asbestos in the past?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BirgitS]

No wallpapers usually contain asbestos.

 

[Slottsfrun]

Thank you for the response!
What are you basing that on?

I thought like you, but I saw a lot of information about asbestos in wallpapers online.
That's why I'm interested if it was a specific type. Vinyl wallpapers are mentioned.
And I believe this wallpaper is a vinyl.

 

[BirgitS]

Based on the image, I think it looks like painted thread/textile wallpaper.

I don't know where you found that it would be common to have asbestos in wallpapers. As I recall, vinyl wallpapers became popular around 1980 (in bathrooms/kitchens) and by then people were well aware of the dangers of asbestos, and it was banned in most things.

But as always, to be sure, you should send in a sample for analysis.

 

[Slottsfrun]

From the picture, I think it looks like painted thread/textile wallpaper.

I don't know where you found that it would be common to have asbestos in wallpaper. As I recall, vinyl wallpaper became popular around 1980 (in bathrooms/kitchens), and by then it was well known how dangerous asbestos was, and asbestos was banned in most things.

But as always, if you want to be sure, you have to send in a sample for analysis.

Hello again,

I simply read that online. There's quite a bit of information about asbestos related to wallpaper.

Do you mean that in the picture it looks like someone has painted over the wallpaper? I really don't think so, and that it's just wallpaper. I tried moistening the wallpaper, but it didn't absorb the water. Which to me indicates that it has a layer of something on top (plastic/vinyl?).

But are there other types of wallpaper that also have this surface that doesn't absorb water? Or does that simply indicate vinyl wallpaper?

 

[BirgitS]

To me, it looks like some sort of textile/yarn/thread wallpaper that someone has painted on. But that's my interpretation of the image, and it doesn't necessarily need to be correct. You see it in real life and from different angles.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority does not have wallpaper on its list of what craftsmen should beware of here: https://www.av.se/halsa-och-sakerhe...ter-och-verksamheter/asbest/har-finns-asbest/

Very rare. The production of asbestos was banned in stages up until 1977 and was used to a very limited extent until 1982 when it was completely banned as a building material. It was mainly used for fire protection and pipe insulation but also in roof and trossbottenskivor. As long as you haven't had a fireplace in the kitchen before, I would say the risk is minimal.

https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/asbets-i-tapet.542036/post-6106366

Asbestos wallpaper is only found behind hot objects like stoves, etc. It's not a real wallpaper but more like plaster bandage and is used to protect against overheating, primarily on metal beams and the like (which can conduct heat well towards, for example, wood).

https://www.flashback.org/t3143173

It was not asbestos, the samples showed some form of plastic. Must have been a textured wallpaper.

https://www.flashback.org/t2516437

Typical examples of pages I find when I search: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=asbest+i+tapet

Vinyl wallpapers probably came to Sweden after it was known that asbestos was dangerous, so it's unlikely that a textured wallpaper contains asbestos.

 

[Dowser4711]

Sure, it could be an old vinyl wallpaper, had something similar in the wet rooms of my parents' home from the mid-70s. But absolutely without any asbestos. The total ban only came in -82, but it was phased out long before that and, as mentioned, is extremely rare in Swedish wallpapers.

If you read on the "internet," you also become worried about chemtrails...

 

[Slottsfrun]

Sure, it could be an old vinyl wallpaper, had something similar in my parent's home in the wet rooms from the mid-70s.
But absolutely completely without asbestos.
The total ban didn't come until '82, but it was phased out long before that and, as mentioned, it's extremely rare in Swedish wallpapers.

If you read on the “internet” you also become worried about chemtrails…

Thank you so much for your response! Appreciated!

So the wallpaper in your parent's home looked like mine in the picture? Did you submit an asbestos sample on that wallpaper or what makes you say "absolutely completely without asbestos"?

How do you know that it is extremely rare in Swedish wallpapers? Has this been investigated, generally speaking?

 

[Slottsfrun]

To me, it looks like some kind of textile/yarn/thread wallpaper that someone has painted on. But that's my interpretation of the image and it doesn't have to be correct. You can see it in reality and from different angles.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority does not have wallpaper on its list of things craftsmen should be cautious of here: [link]

[link]

[link]

[link]

Examples of pages I found when searching: [link]

Vinyl wallpapers came to Sweden after it was known that asbestos was dangerous, so it's unlikely that a textured wallpaper contains asbestos.

Thank you so much for taking the time to send me all this info! There really are kind people out there!

 

[BirgitS]

How do you know that it is extremely unusual in Swedish wallpapers? Has this been investigated, generally speaking?

In the early 70s, when it was discovered that asbestos was hazardous and needed to be phased out, thorough checks were made on which products it was used in. It was first banned in applications where there were already other alternatives, and the longest time was taken for brake pads in vehicles because a reliable alternative without asbestos was not known. Paper wallpapers have been around for over 150 years, so there is no reason to have asbestos in them. Vinyl wallpapers are plastic, and I can't see what would be gained by including asbestos in them.

Asbestos was never free, and it was only chosen when its properties were crucial.

 

[Dowser4711]

Thank you so much for your response! It's appreciated!

So the wallpaper in the parental home looked like mine in the picture? Did you submit an asbestos test on that wallpaper or what makes you say "absolutely asbestos-free"?

Yes, they were very similar and no samples were ever submitted, as it was my parents who put them up and my mother was quite paranoid about most of the things purchased.
When they built the house in 1973, asbestos was a very well-known concept in society and not something attentive consumers bought unknowingly.
As I said, a total ban on asbestos in all products was introduced in 1982, but that doesn't mean everything contained asbestos before that…

How do you know it's extremely uncommon in Swedish wallpapers? Has this been studied, generally speaking?

You've been given a number of good links to reliable sources, the Swedish Work Environment Authority probably carries the most weight in this context.
They are extremely cautious in their advice to professionals and have very good statistics as the basis for their recommendations, which *do not* include wallpapers as something to worry about.

But, if you really are concerned, send in a piece to https://asbestprov.se/ and you'll get a definite answer.