Asbestos in the home

There are several products that contained a type of asbestos in older buildings , but since the 70’s asbestos-based products should only contain asbestos chrysotile fibres.

You may find asbestos in:

  • Floor and ceiling coverings

  • Different types of insulation

  • Household appliances

Asbestos concerns

Research on asbestos have revealed negative health effects due to excessive exposure to asbestos dust particles in the air although the most of the risks are related to the handling of asbestos in a work environment. Therefore asbestos fibres are not harmful unless they are disturbed releasing large quantities of fibres into the air. If you find asbestos in your home, there in no concern unless it has been disturbed and/or is damaged.

The asbestos-based products used today however, have the fibres trapped in a solid matter preventing them from becoming airborne. Today’s asbestos-based products are also using chrysotile fibres instead of the earlier amphiboles fibres (banned a long time ago) because they are much less dangerous during exposure.

Unfortunately, you cannot confirm asbestos in your home just by a visual inspection. The only way to confirm asbestos is to have a sample tested by an accredited asbestos laboratory. If you suspect asbestos, the safest approach is to treat the material as if it does contain asbestos.

Vermiculite insulation

Vermiculite insulation has been known to contain amphibole asbestos fibres. It is a mineral mined around the world and used in several products because it has good insulation qualities and is fire-resistant. Of concern is vermiculite ore produced by the Libby Mine in Montana from the 1920’s to 1990 because it may contain amphibole asbestos . It was marketed as Zonolite. Attic Insulation and quite possibly other brands in Canada during that time. The Libby Mine supplied the majority of the world market in vermiculite-based insulation. Amphibole asbestos fibres are not present in all vermiculite insulation produced before 1990 , although it is reasonable to assume that if your home contains older vermiculite insulation then it may contain amphibole asbestos fibres.

Health risks

Asbestos only poses a health risk when there are airborne fibres present in the air we breathe. Negative heath affects due to airborne exposure depends on:

  • The amount of fibres in the air

  • Size of the fibres inhaled

  • Length of the exposure

  • Amount of time since initial exposure

  • How often you were exposed

When the asbestos fibres were inhaled in significant quantities , it has been known to cause :

  • Asbestosis ( a scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult )

  • Mesothelioma ( a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity)

  • Lung cancer

The link between other types of cancer and exposure to amphibole asbestos fibres is less clear. Smoking in combination with the inhalation of asbestos fibres greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.

Nathan Pile

Napoleon Home inspections