To asbestos experts: is it really in these (almost all) materials?

[Krabbeluring]

To begin with, I want to say that I in no way mentally resemble those who start threads continuously on the topic of asbestos and are completely terrified when writing things like "the previous owners happened to break an asbestos-cement board twelve years ago, can I get lung cancer now when I'm raking the gravel path?" Yes, maybe an extreme example, but I've seen several similar threads. 🙃

I'm directing my thoughts to two categories with this thread initiation: people in the industry, asbestos removers, or other professionals who have a solid grasp of asbestos. Also, others who have submitted a number of samples and gained experience along the way with their houses are welcome to answer. Speculation helps me little, and if someone has a username like Stefan or Staffan, please feel free to click on. 😉

I bought a house last year where I knew I would keep myself occupied with renovations for several years before things would be in any sort of order, what I didn't know was that asbestos could be in everything from the basement foundation to the roof ridge. About exactly a year ago, I sent in 10 samples where I suspected asbestos, of which 3 came back positive. They were quite clear risk materials, so nothing strange about that. Besides what I tested, I know that my pipe bends in the basement have "gurmassa," and three cement-fiber channels, not to mention two electrical panels that have a nasty white paper behind them. Probably more that I've forgotten to mention, but whatever.

When I've read on official pages from the Swedish Work Environment Authority, analysis companies, and others, it sounds like theoretically, ALL materials can have some asbestos content. But this is starting to wear me down as I work on the house. It becomes quite a financial burden to test every material I encounter. The list of materials is virtually endless and covers every conceivable material when you read about it.

Has anyone here on the forum REALLY encountered it in, for example, ordinary wallpapers, wallpaper paste, filler, and indoor paint? In paper-stretched ceilings? It says that it can be found in mortar, and since my entire house consists of plastered walls with reeds, mesh, and mortar behind gypsum or masonite, I would be in trouble if that's the case. The mortar dusts every time you accidentally slam an interior door too hard. Apparently, it can be in concrete tiles, self-leveling compound, window putty, electric cables, you name it. When I start tearing something down, I set up the air purifier, section off the room with plastic, and put on my full mask as a matter of routine; it's no big deal. No construction dust is healthy.

But how the heck can so few people get sick if it's in virtually all materials in houses that have been renovated or built, like in the '30s to '70s? At the same time, it's one of the most dangerous carcinogens we know. Anyway, that wasn’t really my question.

Where have you found asbestos in "ordinary" materials where you think it shouldn't have been? Vinyl floors, asbestos-cement, carpet glue, pipe insulation, and such are out, no need to mention them, but I would really like to know if there's anyone out there who has found it in ordinary cheap filler, for example. Thanks for listening!

 

[[old rusty]]

I thought my granite slabs for window sills were really nice (no, I'm not a geologist..) until I saw the underside.

They are still nice though..

 

[Dr Benz]

Are you just curious to know or is it to make a plan for renovation?

My house is like a shield of eternit.
Trossbotten
Outer walls
Ceiling
Roof tiles
Then I have removed ventilation ducts that were also asbestos. And old bends to water pipes.

If you're wondering why so many have renovated but haven't been harmed, it's because it's the amount and frequency that cause damage.

Working at an eternit factory and smoking was not a good combination.

I'm satisfied as long as my house holds together. Maybe the roof tiles will need some care eventually. But nothing is replaced just because it's eternit.

 

[Krabbeluring]

I thought my granite slabs for window sills were really nice (no, I'm not a geologist..) until I saw the underside.

They're still nice though..

In other words, it was never granite? Well, it sounds like something not to worry too much about where it sits in its bound form. One of the better places to find asbestos must be inside bakelite switches or embedded in vinyl flooring, or indeed eternit is quite unproblematic until you break it.

I've seen videos from the States where they have essentially loose insulation with vermiculite or the treacherous "insulation boards" which are extremely porous and high in asbestos. We are fortunately spared from that here, but at the same time about 1200 die every year in Sweden due to asbestos, one wonders how many of these are "new victims," i.e., not those who were around in the good old days when they stood and ladled asbestos into tile adhesive by hand.

 

[Strontus]

Different types of asbestos also have varying levels of danger. It was even present in brake pads until sometime in the 80s, so everyone who lived during that time has been exposed to it.

 

[Krabbeluring]

Are you just curious to know, or is it to make a plan for renovation?

My house is like a shield of eternit.
Subfloor
Outer walls
Ceilings
Roof tiles
I've also torn out ventilation ducts that were asbestos. And old bends in water pipes.

If you're wondering why so many have renovated but not been harmed, it's because it's the amount and frequency that causes the damage.

Working at an eternit factory and smoking was not a good combo.

I'm satisfied as long as my house holds together. Maybe the roof tiles will need some love eventually. But nothing is replaced just because it's eternit.

Yes, I was completely unaware when I bought the house of the amount of material that asbestos could be in, in some form. So it was a hard awakening. The asbestos anxiety started after a plumber convinced me (though I never really felt convinced) that "you definitely don't have any asbestos here, it usually lies closest to the pipes as a white paper." Then he stubbed out 4 pipes with the reciprocating saw, and when I looked more closely after two weeks, there was brown powder all over the floor where he had cut, along with torn gauze and fiberglass. By then, I had been in the basement many times and tore out an old root cellar during that time. I called him, and he didn't understand what I was referring to. I sent it for testing, and it was amosite, one of the more unpleasant forms of asbestos. Unfortunately, that plumber may not live very long.

After I realized that I probably got a lifetime dose due to his mishap, I started reading about asbestos and felt that the already tough renovations would give me a stomachache since they could apparently be in all conceivable materials.

So yes, it's curiosity but also some worry. So far, the tests have come back positive for material that obviously belongs to the 60s renovation, so I am quite sure that everything older than that should be fairly free of this nuisance. But when you read about it, they don't differentiate between materials.

It's overwhelmingly common in eternit and industry, or pipe bends and as a backing on some vinyl flooring and black mastics. But when you read about it, they make it sound as if it's just as common in electrical cables and regular wallpapers. But that can't be right!

 

[Krabbeluring]

Different types of asbestos are also differently dangerous. It was even found in brake pads until the 1980s at some point, so everyone who lived then has been exposed to it.

Yes, yes, I've of course heard of that, but there must be a difference with something that releases fibers out in the open air as well, or like an eternit roof, compared to something like a hundred percent extremely volatile pipe insulation in dust form that someone accidentally saws right through. The difference in fiber concentration per liter of air is so significant that it can't even be compared.

Have you found asbestos in some common material where you didn't expect it to be?

 

[Krabbeluring]

Are you just curious or is it to make a plan for renovation?

My house is like a Shield of asbestos.
Joint beam
External walls
Ceiling
Roof tiles
I have also removed ventilation ducts that were asbestos. And old bends to water pipes.

If you're wondering why so many have renovated but not been harmed, it's because it's the amount and frequency that cause harm.

Working at an asbestos factory and smoking was not a good combo.

I'm satisfied as long as my house holds together. Maybe the roof tiles will need some love eventually. But nothing is replaced just because it's asbestos.

Interesting! What year was the house built? And in what form is the asbestos on the joint beam and external walls, the same asbestos everywhere? Just on the joint beam, it sounds like a very well-placed material since joint beam boards often mold and bend due to moisture. If there's one place I think asbestos would actually be good, it's in something like a crawl space, which is still well-ventilated, haha. With boards that support the insulation, between the beams.

 

[Dr Benz]

Exciting! What year was the house built? And in what form does the asbestos exist in the subfloor and exterior walls, is it the same eternit everywhere? Specifically in the subfloor, it sounds like a very well-placed material since subfloor boards often mold and bend due to moisture. If there's anywhere I think asbestos would actually be good, it's in a crawl space that's already well-ventilated, haha. With boards supporting the insulation, between the studs.

It was built in 1965. A single-story LB house.

Everywhere there are boards (tiles) in different variants.

Yes, it's perfect. Only the studs are made of wood. The boards are just as sturdy as new. However, it's not well ventilated since I've closed it. Likewise, the underroof is made of Eternit boards. If it leaks through (the joints are on the rafters), it's visible and will still dry out. In my mind, therefore, the underroof never needs replacing. The tiles are starting to release small pieces and crack a little. But I plan to paint them this summer, so it should be fine. The exterior walls consist of slightly rougher boards that are painted.

 

[Dr Benz]

I was completely unaware when I bought the house about the amount of material that asbestos could be found in, in some form. So it was a harsh awakening. The asbestos anxiety kicked in after a plumber had convinced me (though I never really felt convinced) that "you certainly don't have any asbestos here, it's usually closest to the pipes like a white paper." Then he cut through 4 pipes with a reciprocating saw and when I checked more carefully after two weeks there was brown dust everywhere on the floor where he had cut, along with torn bandages and fiberglass. By then, I had been in the basement many times and was tearing out an old root cellar during that time. I called him and he didn't understand what I was referring to. I sent off a sample and it was amosite, one of the nastier forms of asbestos. That plumber unfortunately probably won't live long.

After I realized I had probably inhaled a lifetime dose due to his mistake, I started reading up on asbestos and felt that the already tough renovations would give me anxiety since they could apparently be found in all conceivable materials.

So yes, it's curiosity but also a certain worry. So far, the tests have come back positive for materials that obviously belong to the 60s renovation, so I'm fairly certain that everything older than that should be pretty free from this nuisance. But when you read about it, they don't distinguish between materials.

It's by far most common in cement and industry, or pipe bends and as a backing on certain vinyl floors and black adhesive. But when you read about it, they make it sound like it’s just as common in electrical cables and regular wallpaper. But that can't be right!

I can't speak for the frequency.

But for my own part, it's "just" one house I'm renovating. I'm not overly concerned. I'm trying to avoid inhaling it. But not worried.

You have to form your own opinion and take it from there.