Asbestos in the home

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral made up of tiny fibres. When disturbed, it can produce a dust containing asbestos fibres. Breathing these fibres into the lungs can cause a range of health problems, including pleural plaques, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos was commonly used in building materials between the 1940s and the late 1980s because it is fire resistant, durable and an efficient insulating material. Now that the health risks are understood, asbestos has been banned from new products in many countries.

When asbestos is a health risk#

Asbestos only poses a risk to health when its fibres are breathed in. The presence of asbestos in home building materials generally does not pose a health risk unless the material is broken, deteriorating or disturbed in a way that releases airborne fibres.

This can happen when asbestos-containing material is broken, or when it is drilled, sanded or cut with a power tool.

It is difficult to tell whether a building material contains asbestos. The only way to be certain is to have a sample tested by an accredited laboratory.

Diseases associated with asbestos#

Asbestos-related disease can develop decades after exposure. Conditions linked to asbestos include:

• pleural plaques – thickened patches of scar tissue on the pleura (lining) of the lung
• asbestosis – progressive scar tissue inside the lungs that impairs breathing
• lung cancer
• mesothelioma

Where asbestos may be found#

Asbestos can be loosely or firmly bound.

In older homes, firmly bound asbestos may be found in:

• exterior fibre cement cladding and weatherboards
• artificial brick cladding
• flexible building boards – eave linings, bathroom linings, cement tile underlay
• corrugated cement roofing
• flue pipes
• architectural cement pipe columns
• textured paint
• vinyl floor tiles or coverings

Loosely bound or “friable” asbestos was rarely used in homes. However, loose asbestos fibres may have been used in some products, such as ceiling insulation, insulation on hot water pipes, and insulation in old domestic heaters and stoves.

As a guide:

• Houses built after 1990 are unlikely to contain asbestos products.
• Houses built between the mid-1980s and 1990 may contain asbestos products.
• Houses built before the mid-1980s are highly likely to contain asbestos products.

Asbestos in automotive parts#

Asbestos has also been used by the automotive industry. Take care if you are carrying out maintenance on older car brakes, clutches or gaskets.

Removing asbestos safely#

It is recommended that a licensed professional remove loosely bound asbestos. If you do not feel confident to safely handle or remove the material, engage a licensed asbestos removalist.

Strict precautions apply to the removal and disposal of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. Follow them to protect yourself, your family, your neighbours and the environment when removing, packing, transporting and disposing of asbestos.

When handling asbestos material, you should:

• Wear a disposable half-face particulate respirator fitted with a dust/particulate cartridge appropriate for asbestos. Ordinary dust masks do not prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
• Wear a disposable overall, hat and gloves.
• Work in a well-ventilated area and lay plastic drop sheets to catch any debris.
• Wet the asbestos surface to reduce the risk of dust particles becoming airborne.
• Not use power tools to saw, grind, drill or break any asbestos product. Use hand tools if necessary.
• Carefully pull out any nails and try not to break the sheets as you remove them.
• Place the sheets on the ground rather than dropping them.
• Use a wet mop if you need to clean up, and vacuum only with a cleaner designed for asbestos fibre collection and fitted with a HEPA filter.
• Bag and seal any waste and dispose of it at an approved facility.

After finishing the work, place your clothes in a container marked “Asbestos-contaminated clothing” for disposal with other contaminated items. Keep the respirator on until contaminated clothing is bagged and sealed. Thoroughly wash your hands and have a shower when you have finished.

Disposing of asbestos#

To package asbestos for disposal:

• Wet the asbestos material.
• Double wrap the material in heavy-duty builders’ plastic.
• Seal the plastic completely with tape.
• Label the packages with a warning such as “Caution – asbestos. Do not open or damage bag. Do not inhale dust”.

Take the packages, or arrange for them to be taken, to an approved asbestos disposal facility. For advice on safe disposal and on any concerns about asbestos removal in your area, contact your local waste or environmental authority.

Key points#

• Asbestos was commonly used in building materials between the 1940s and the late 1980s.
• It was used because it is fire resistant, durable and an efficient insulating material.
• Now that the health risks are understood, asbestos is banned from new products in many countries.
• Asbestos only poses a risk to health when asbestos fibres are breathed in.
• The recommended precautions are designed to reduce the risk to householders to a very low level.

Where to get help#