ASBESTOS Q&A

A few people may become concerned whether or not asbestos is in their home. This page is to help answer some of the questions you may have, where to look for it, and let you know what to do if you think you may have an issue. If you still have questions after reading through this handout, please give Malmstrom AFB Homes (406) 315-2262 or the Military Housing Office (406) 731-3446 a call.

ASBESTOS
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil.

Where can I find asbestos?
Many U.S. buildings constructed before 1980 have asbestos. Asbestos-containing materials come in many forms. Due to its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide-range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials; such as roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products and cement products; friction products like an automobile clutch, brake, transmission parts, heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

Where asbestos may be found:
     • Attic and wall insulation produced with vermiculite
     • Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
     • Roofing and siding shingles
     • Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
     • Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
     • Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape
     • Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
     • Heat-resistant fabrics
     • Automobile clutches and brakes

Here is a diagram of where asbestos could be found in a home.

How can people be exposed to asbestos?
Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling. In general, exposure may occur only when the asbestos-containing material is disturbed or damaged in some way to release particles and fibers into the air.

How Bad Is One-Time Exposure to Asbestos?
One-time asbestos exposure generally is not a serious risk, except in extreme circumstances where toxic dust clouds the air. Asbestos-related diseases are usually caused by months or years of regular workplace exposure.

If you were exposed to asbestos for one day, the risk to your health depends on how much dust you inhaled.
      Was the asbestos-containing product damaged or crumbly?
      Was it scraped, smashed, drilled or sawed?
      Was the area poorly ventilated?

If the answer is yes, and you did not take safety precautions, then you likely inhaled a substantial amount of asbestos dust. Don’t panic. Asbestos exposure will not have any immediate impact on your health. If it ever affects you, it will take years for symptoms to arise. Make sure your doctors are aware of the event so it is in your medical history. Avoid any further asbestos exposure in the future.

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to do a renovation and then realize afterward that they disturbed asbestos products. Fortunately, the risk from this is low.

In many places, there are already trace amounts of asbestos in the air. In the countryside, it comes from the erosion of rock formations. In urban areas, it comes from ongoing demolition and construction work happening.

People rarely get sick from light, occasional asbestos exposure. Being careless about one renovation will not significantly increase your risk, but you must learn from the experience and avoid making the same mistakes again.

Health effects from exposure to asbestos
Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease, which can be made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure.

Asbestos-related conditions can be difficult to identify. Healthcare providers usually identify the possibility of asbestos exposure and related health conditions, like lung disease, by taking a thorough medical history. This includes looking at the person’s medical, work, cultural and environmental history.

After a doctor suspects an asbestos-related health condition, they can use a number of tools to help make the actual diagnosis. Some of these tools are physical examination, chest x-ray and pulmonary function tests. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist who treats diseases caused by asbestos.

Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are:
     • Lung cancer
     • Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining of the lung, chest, abdomen and heart
     • Asbestosis, a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs

How to identify materials that may contain asbestos
Generally, you can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. You may want to have your home inspected for asbestos-containing materials by a trained and accredited asbestos professional if:
     • You are planning to remodel your home.
     • Your home has damaged building materials, like crumbling drywall and insulation that is falling apart.

A trained and accredited asbestos professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples yourself is not recommended.

If building materials in your home aren’t damaged and won’t be disturbed, you do not need to have your home tested for asbestos. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed by remodeling should be left alone.

What to do if you have asbestos in your home
If you think there may be asbestos in your home, don’t panic. Asbestos-containing materials that aren’t damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk. The best thing is to leave asbestos-containing material alone if it is in good condition. Generally, asbestos-containing material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed by remodeling will not release asbestos fibers.

Asbestos-containing materials may release fibers when they are disturbed, damaged, removed improperly, repaired, cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled or scraped. Keep an eye on asbestos-containing materials and visually check them over time for signs of wear or damage.

If you suspect material contains asbestos, don't touch it. Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers. This is particularly true if you often disturb it by hitting, rubbing or handling, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow.

For slightly damaged asbestos-containing material, sometimes the best way to deal with it is to limit access to the area and not to touch or disturb it. If asbestos-containing material is more than slightly damaged or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a trained and accredited asbestos professional is needed.

Asbestos dos and don'ts for the homeowner
     • Do leave undamaged asbestos-containing materials alone.
     • Do keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged material that may contain asbestos, including limiting children's access to any
       materials that may contain asbestos.
     • Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos-containing material.
     • Do have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos. It is highly recommended that sampling and minor
       repair also be done by a trained and accredited asbestos professional.
     • Don't dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
     • Don't saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos-containing materials.
     • Don't use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on flooring that may
       contain asbestos.
     • Don't sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing install new floor covering over it, if possible.
     • Don't track material that could contain asbestos through the house. If you cannot avoid walking through the area, have it cleaned with a wet mop.
       If the material is from a damaged area or if a large area must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional

For more information about Asbestos view to the U.S. EPA website at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.