Asbestos Myths

We came across an article about asbestos removal at a US college this morning and it was more interesting than it should have been–it had some misinformation in it. Let’s see if you know whether these asbestos myths are true or false.

Asbestos Myth or Truth?

Asbestos is a chemical.

Myth!

Asbestos is a group of minerals–a type of rock which breaks up into fibers when disturbed. There are six types of asbestos: Chrisotile (curly fibers), Amosite (brown), Crocidolite (blue), Tremolite, Actinolite, and Anthophyllite.

Asbestos Myth or Truth?

It takes a lot of inhaled asbestos to make you sick, over a long period of time.

Myth!

There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. One poorly planned DIY removal project and years from now you could be sitting in an oncologist’s office. We don’t want to scare you. Well, maybe we do! Into being careful. It doesn’t take a lot and it doesn’t take a long time to breathe in enough asbestos to make you sick. What takes a long time–maybe even decades–is for that disease to become symptomatic.

Asbestos Myth or Truth?

A building which contains asbestos materials is completely safe.

Myth!

It is true that undisturbed asbestos is not dangerous. But it’s not hard to disturb it. Want to replace that old floor tile? It could contain asbestos. How about the popcorn ceiling in that old fixer-upper you just bought? It could contain asbestos. And then there are natural disasters like earthquakes. Asbestos that has been left in place can become dangerous due to unforeseen circumstances.

Asbestos Myth or Truth?

Asbestos removal is not a DIY project.

Truth!

If you are renovating an old building or fixing up one that has been damaged, you should never remove asbestos or potentially asbestos-containing materials yourself. To remove it safely takes special training and equipment, as well as knowledge of and access to safe disposal.

Think you might have asbestos you would like to be out of your residence or commercial building? Call Alliance Environmental for help!

Download a free copy of our Asbestos, Lead Paint & Mold eBook to learn how to mitigate the liability risks associated with common environmental threats found in residential properties.