Living at home after removing asbestos tiles
Anxiety Freak
4 years ago
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Anxiety Freak
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Asbestos in home after remodeling
Comments (6)Unfortunately reputable was not a word I would use...hindsight is such a wonderful thing. They have now "disappeared"! The tile was 12"x12" and simply stuck down onto concrete with what looked like a brown glue (no black mastic or other material). The contractor covered the brown glue with a new floor (it was pretty flat when covered so should be okay) - but is any "asbestos residue" perhaps in the glue likely to seep through? We've gone through the house and cleaned most surfaces with a damp cloth, we have no carpets (wooden floors throughout) and do not smoke...so I suppose a one-time exposure like this is likely to be okay...I hope! And I suppose if there are a few extra fibers in the air, they will eventually filter out and be cleared from the house. Any guidance/advice is greatfully received. We have been worrying continually for days after reading comments on various forums, etc. If only we had the tiles covered and not removed. James...See MoreRemoved Asbestos Tiles
Comments (3)Risk is minimal. Asbestos is a fiber and it is encapsulated in the vinyl material. I am currently taking up 1100 ft of it with no worries. Research Asbestos Lung Disease, it is prevalent in people with moderate to strong exposure to the fibers and doesn't occur in everyone that has that type of exposure. You don't get near that level of exposure pulling up vinyl tiles....See MoreAsbestos again - floor tile and adhesive removed now what?
Comments (20)anglophilia- I'm sorry your husband died of cancer. However, that does not mean that since he he didn't die of an asbestos-related disease what you did with your floors was necessarily safe. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Many people have exposures to toxic materials, even multiple ones, and it doesn't cause them health problems or kill them...but some are affected. In my posts above urging caution, I'm not suggesting that if you have an asbestos exposure it will kill you...it's just that you want to minimize avoidable exposures. I have a 93 year old relative who is still alive after decades of smoking and working around asbestos, and I also know of a 30-year old who died from asbestos exposure as a result of a several week summer job he had in college. Risk is a complex issue that depends on many factors, including genetics. One can't predict which individuals specifically will come down with a disease from a certain type of toxic exposure; we can only see what the overall incidences are and try to help people avoid taking risks that might make them one of the unlucky ones. We are all exposed to nasty stuff, often without realizing it. Typically, larger exposures --- such as occupation-related ones -- are more concerning. But there are some substances, such as asbestos and lead, where the medical and scientific communities have yet to find any level of exposure/intake that is guaranteed safe. People want risk to be black and white: it will kill me or it won't. But most environmental concerns aren't like that, so we have to live with a wide spectrum of gray, and make personal decisions on how cautious to be or not. I know for certain something will kill me some day, but I try to avoid making choices that will possibly speed that up.......See Moreasbestos vinyl tiles removed - risk level?
Comments (0)hi my case: Son has an old house (1960). Most of house had dirty carpet when bought and had a flooring company replace carpet without looking under it. Now, years later decided to remove carpet. Under carpet were the 9x9 tiles. Most tiles were okay, but several were broken so took all tile out (they mainly popped up, but some broke and also did some scraping). Some dust was made, but could be from carpet and pad. Mopped floor after. Under tiles is the black cutback mastic, now uncovered. Area is about 200 sqft. Got rid of the tiles so cant be tested, but I assume to contain asbestos. Also removed carpet in a bedroom (10x10), which also has tiles underneath, but left the tiles in place and covered most of area with an area rug. Doubtful any protective masks were used, and certainly not by others living in the house at the time, as well as now. Questions: Is that level of exposure serious (been a few months since removed)? Are roommates at any risk? Can just walking on the exposed mastic release fibers? Should air get tested? What can be used to cover the cutback mastic? Wants to lay vinyl sheeting in the area (or anything else recommended?). Is it okay to re-lay carpet in the bedroom over the tiles? Should he/me be too concerned? Yes, it's done, but knowing risk level will help. Thanks...See MoreAnxiety Freak
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