There was some various insulation, mostly mineral wool, but also something that resembled what you have. I did not think about possible asbestos. It seems like one of the less likely sources of asbestos.
One should obviously be aware of asbestos, especially before drilling into, for example, a ventilation pipe made of eternit (there was also one of those in the attic). But IF you happen to expose yourself to asbestos dust at some point in your life, the risk of health problems is so minuscule that you don't need to worry about it.
For instance, you don't stop drinking water from a glass for fear that it might break and you might cut your mouth. But you are somewhat cautious not to drink from a glass that already has a chip.
And the risk of accidentally swallowing a glass shard from a glass with serious consequences is probably much greater than getting sick from a single exposure to asbestos.
One should obviously be aware of asbestos, especially before drilling into, for example, a ventilation pipe made of eternit (there was also one of those in the attic). But IF you happen to expose yourself to asbestos dust at some point in your life, the risk of health problems is so minuscule that you don't need to worry about it.
For instance, you don't stop drinking water from a glass for fear that it might break and you might cut your mouth. But you are somewhat cautious not to drink from a glass that already has a chip.
And the risk of accidentally swallowing a glass shard from a glass with serious consequences is probably much greater than getting sick from a single exposure to asbestos.
Hempularen, I agree with your reasoning about single exposure.
Unfortunately, I have been exposed to multiple exposures myself:
Sooted in a boiler room for about 5 years where the pipe bends were really hanging, meaning they were torn apart. Turned out to be asbestos.
Asbestos sticking out as insulation in a place where the boiler casing, i.e., the metal sheet was damaged. Asbestos.
Ripped out a carpet with an asbestos paper backing and black glue. Asbestos.
Remnants of the paper remained on a stair step for five years, where we walked and wore it down for five years..
Remnants from glue/paper remain under the newly installed floor, no remediation was done before this was laid.
Chimney sweep who cleaned the ventilation duct from bird nests and left a thin dust behind, which I discovered several weeks later. Possible processing of the asbestos cement with the sharp brush used and thus risk of asbestos fibers in the dust. Never cleaned as asbestos since we just thought "dust" and were irritated that the chimney sweep spread this.
Yes, altogether this has created my asbestos anxiety. What's done is done, but all this started my thoughts about asbestos.
For better or worse. It's good to think carefully in the future, but unhealthy to worry too much.
Hempularen, what do you think?
Unfortunately, I have been exposed to multiple exposures myself:
Sooted in a boiler room for about 5 years where the pipe bends were really hanging, meaning they were torn apart. Turned out to be asbestos.
Asbestos sticking out as insulation in a place where the boiler casing, i.e., the metal sheet was damaged. Asbestos.
Ripped out a carpet with an asbestos paper backing and black glue. Asbestos.
Remnants of the paper remained on a stair step for five years, where we walked and wore it down for five years..
Remnants from glue/paper remain under the newly installed floor, no remediation was done before this was laid.
Chimney sweep who cleaned the ventilation duct from bird nests and left a thin dust behind, which I discovered several weeks later. Possible processing of the asbestos cement with the sharp brush used and thus risk of asbestos fibers in the dust. Never cleaned as asbestos since we just thought "dust" and were irritated that the chimney sweep spread this.
Yes, altogether this has created my asbestos anxiety. What's done is done, but all this started my thoughts about asbestos.
For better or worse. It's good to think carefully in the future, but unhealthy to worry too much.
Hempularen, what do you think?
It's still no danger. Those who have been identified with asbestos damage have worked with an incredibly high exposure every day for years. Imagine your work involves cutting Eternit pipes with a saw or grinder. You might cut several hundred a day, standing in a constant cloud of asbestos dust, without any protective equipment. And you do it every day for maybe 5-10 years.
And it's not just you doing it; you're one of perhaps 200 at the same workplace, all exposed with every breath. And then after 5-10 years, a doctor begins to wonder why, in a short time, they've had 3 patients with an unusual type of cancer. They start investigating and find 15 more (out of 200-300).
I believe that's how it happened when the danger was realized. But of all who were exposed in that way, it was still "only" a few who actually got sick. Likely, there were then a few more or perhaps quite a few more who got sick, but for various reasons, weren't linked to this group.
What you've been exposed to is extremely little in comparison. And there are hundreds of thousands of workers who have worked daily with asbestos in dust form, though not as extremely much as those at the Eternit factory. And among these hundreds of thousands, they haven't managed (as far as I know) to find any individual who has become ill. Which, in itself, doesn't mean that NO ONE has gotten sick, just that so few have gotten sick that it disappears in the statistical noise.
And it's not just you doing it; you're one of perhaps 200 at the same workplace, all exposed with every breath. And then after 5-10 years, a doctor begins to wonder why, in a short time, they've had 3 patients with an unusual type of cancer. They start investigating and find 15 more (out of 200-300).
I believe that's how it happened when the danger was realized. But of all who were exposed in that way, it was still "only" a few who actually got sick. Likely, there were then a few more or perhaps quite a few more who got sick, but for various reasons, weren't linked to this group.
What you've been exposed to is extremely little in comparison. And there are hundreds of thousands of workers who have worked daily with asbestos in dust form, though not as extremely much as those at the Eternit factory. And among these hundreds of thousands, they haven't managed (as far as I know) to find any individual who has become ill. Which, in itself, doesn't mean that NO ONE has gotten sick, just that so few have gotten sick that it disappears in the statistical noise.
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