Disturbed Asbestos In The Attic

Asbestos hardly needs an introduction anymore as most homeowners should be schooled in the general dangers of disturbing and breathing asbestos fibers. The dangers of asbestos when disturbed if asbestos is crushed drilled excavated or otherwise disturbed even by natural erosion the fibers become airborne. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos.

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Asbestos only becomes a problem if it becomes airborne and gets into your lungs at a high enough dose.

Disturbed asbestos in the attic.

One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne. He decided to replace the existing insulation with new fiberglass insulation to save money in the winter months.

While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation. When released into the air especially in enclosed spaces where it can concentrate the fibrous dust can enter the body either by inhalation or swallowing. Consider this statement from research titled zonolite attic insulation exposure studies where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer grace created a very unsafe condition. You should assume the vermiculite contains asbestos and do not disturb it.

The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite. There are other sources of asbestos in attic insulation but this single source significantly outpaces the others the primary source of asbestos attic insulation is from a specific mine in montana operated for 70 years by the libby company according to the environmental protection agency. There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. Asbestos isn t like radioactivity which can be a hazard because it constantly emits radiation.

The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. If your home was built before 1990 and you have vermiculite insulation or if your house was built prior to 1970 it s likely that you have some form of asbestos in your attic or elsewhere. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country.

If you absolutely have to go in your attic and it contains vermiculite insulation you should limit the number of trips you make and shorten the length of those trips in order to help limit your potential exposure. If you re concerned about a particular material in your home you can call an asbestos inspection company to come in and have the material tested. Any disturbance could potentially release asbestos fibers into the air. There is one primary source of asbestos attic insulation.