asbestos Asbestos Exposure

[Gary33]

Hi all.

 

Thought I would come on here as I have spoken to a few companys but i cant eat, sleep and function properly.

 

Started some work in the house which has unexpectedly turned into a full house renovation.

 

My partner and our 14 month old baby boy moved out while the work was getting done and I've been working long hours trying to do all this on my own with my dad helping me.

 

So we come across black 9x9 plastic tiles and adhesive which has now been tested and in the dining room, kitchen, living room and hall way found traces of Chrysotile in both tiles and adhesive.

 

Both my dad and I popped the tiles up not knowing and we have already broken the tiles in the living room up and bagged them up about a month or 2 ago now. We have started on the hallway and it clicked. We then got a test done and come back positive with it in.

 

We had a builder in also and he went through the kitchen with a hammer drill and got all the tiles up which later we found Chrysotile in the adhesive.

 

I am paranoid to death that this could be all over the house, we have a granny flat where I have stayed while doing the work, sometimes people have walked through the house I've been working in to the flat and I'm mindful something could be in the carpets. All over the house really! My 14 month old has stayed over a few times because I'm not living with him just so I can see him but now I am paranoid that hes been exposed to it. I'm not bothered about myself I feel sick, cant sleep, head is racing thinking the worst. I dont know what to do now regarding any possible dust that could be there. I've hovered the carpet where we have been staying and tried my best to keep on top of cleaning. I'm so paranoid about it and all I keep thinking about is the baby and what if.

 

I would appreciate any help/advice regarding what to do next? I've been told its low risk but it's not making me feel any better. I'm mindful of anything on the carpets and any dust lying around that hasn't been cleaned up could pose a threat still.

Edited October 29, 2021 by Gary33

[markc]

Hi, this comes up many times, loads of tiles and sheets contain asbestos but the likelihood of this kind of exposure causing any harm is very low.

loose fibrous asbestosis a different story.

Search previous threads for similar content for re assurance

[Conor]

Very low risk as the fibre concentration is low and embedded in the resin/adhesive.

[Carrerahill]

34 minutes ago, Gary33 said:

Hi all.

 

Thought I would come on here as I have spoken to a few companys but i cant eat, sleep and function properly.

 

Started some work in the house which has unexpectedly turned into a full house renovation.

 

My partner and our 14 month old baby boy moved out while the work was getting done and I've been working long hours trying to do all this on my own with my dad helping me.

 

So we come across black 9x9 plastic tiles and adhesive which has now been tested and in the dining room, kitchen, living room and hall way found traces of Chrysotile in both tiles and adhesive.

 

Both my dad and I popped the tiles up not knowing and we have already broken the tiles in the living room up and bagged them up about a month or 2 ago now. We have started on the hallway and it clicked. We then got a test done and come back positive with it in.

 

We had a builder in also and he went through the kitchen with a hammer drill and got all the tiles up which later we found Chrysotile in the adhesive.

 

I am paranoid to death that this could be all over the house, we have a granny flat where I have stayed while doing the work, sometimes people have walked through the house I've been working in to the flat and I'm mindful something could be in the carpets. All over the house really! My 14 month old has stayed over a few times because I'm not living with him just so I can see him but now I am paranoid that hes been exposed to it. I'm not bothered about myself I feel sick, cant sleep, head is racing thinking the worst. I dont know what to do now regarding any possible dust that could be there. I've hovered the carpet where we have been staying and tried my best to keep on top of cleaning. I'm so paranoid about it and all I keep thinking about is the baby and what if.

 

I would appreciate any help/advice regarding what to do next? I've been told its low risk but it's not making me feel any better. I'm mindful of anything on the carpets and any dust lying around that hasn't been cleaned up could pose a threat still.

I don't have the time just now, but search for posts by me within the last year I think it would be, I posted a huge screed about asbestos and all the issues and concerns and limitations etc. etc.

 

I know where you are coming from, just relax and read my post, I am certain it will help you.

[saveasteading]

There is reliable information on this in the HSE documentation, ie saying that the risk is very low. if still concerned, reply and  I will find it.

 

Have taken these tiles up many-a-time and it is a normal contractor job, not even specialist.

 

To be dangerous you would have to grind these tiles up to expose the fibres (2% of the total volume) then breathe it in. I don't expect you have done that. Relax.

 

[saveasteading]

I should have added. 

If you google the subject you find mostly contractors and consultants looking for the work, so they say it is dangerous and to call them in.

Hence the HSE document is best.

 

Although the risk is low, and you are allowed to remove them yourself, (not required to be a licensed specialist) you should follow protocols.

They are all in the leaflet from hse.

 

For now, if you have already removed some, they should be in plastic bags. the tiles will cut through a normal bag so either use rubble bags, or put the bag into another, with carboard round it to stop it cutting through.

if opening the bag, wet it so that there is no dust.

 

When you have made sure it is in 2 layers of plastic bag, your local authority will take it and dispose of it safely. Normally you phone them and they take it from you at an agreed transfer station. no charge, as they don't want it fly-tipped or binned. It gets taken to a special tip and buried and capped for ever.

Check out you local authority website for this.

 

Dust. It has been removed already,  I'm sure. 

If you were to come across any pockets in the future: dampen it and brush it up, just in case, but it will probably just be house dust.

[Ferdinand]

7 hours ago, Gary33 said:

Hi all.

 

Thought I would come on here as I have spoken to a few companys but i cant eat, sleep and function properly.

 

Started some work in the house which has unexpectedly turned into a full house renovation.

 

My partner and our 14 month old baby boy moved out while the work was getting done and I've been working long hours trying to do all this on my own with my dad helping me.

 

So we come across black 9x9 plastic tiles and adhesive which has now been tested and in the dining room, kitchen, living room and hall way found traces of Chrysotile in both tiles and adhesive.

 

Both my dad and I popped the tiles up not knowing and we have already broken the tiles in the living room up and bagged them up about a month or 2 ago now. We have started on the hallway and it clicked. We then got a test done and come back positive with it in.

 

We had a builder in also and he went through the kitchen with a hammer drill and got all the tiles up which later we found Chrysotile in the adhesive.

 

I am paranoid to death that this could be all over the house, we have a granny flat where I have stayed while doing the work, sometimes people have walked through the house I've been working in to the flat and I'm mindful something could be in the carpets. All over the house really! My 14 month old has stayed over a few times because I'm not living with him just so I can see him but now I am paranoid that hes been exposed to it. I'm not bothered about myself I feel sick, cant sleep, head is racing thinking the worst. I dont know what to do now regarding any possible dust that could be there. I've hovered the carpet where we have been staying and tried my best to keep on top of cleaning. I'm so paranoid about it and all I keep thinking about is the baby and what if.

 

I would appreciate any help/advice regarding what to do next? I've been told its low risk but it's not making me feel any better. I'm mindful of anything on the carpets and any dust lying around that hasn't been cleaned up could pose a threat still.

 

If you search through the forum several of us have lost relatives to asbestosis.

 

But short, incidental exposure to embedded asbestos is at the low end of the spectrum, and we are vocal about it in high risk situations - such as extended potential exposure to fibres.

 

So low risk on several dimensions of the scale.

 

F

[Gary33]

Hi,

 

Really appreciate the comments, although the more I'm reading up on asbestos and what it could be in I'm get more worried.

 

The house was built in 1950s and im reading up that it could be in the plaster and plasterboards. both my dad and i have ripped the ceilings down and knocked all the plaster off the walls with a hammer drill. the house is covered this dust even still to this day. Should i get someone in to sample plasterboard and plaster? the ceilings from what i gather haven't been artexed. i dont know whether im getting in my own head here and being paranoid about it. the plaster was put straight onto masonry walls. if so what asbestos could this contain?

[Gary33]

SAVEASTEADING would really appreciate if you could send me or point me in the right direction to read up on this please

[Temp]

Google asbestos test kit. They are quite cheap.

[CalvinHobbes]

Well yes, you could get an asbestos survey done. I was amazed myself at just how many products it's in, gutters, celing, under steel sink, even the cistern can have it.  At the very least damp down and wear PPE. You can get the bags online and dump it responsibly. Also, the risk to you and your dad should still be low  - don't stress. 

[saveasteading]

11 minutes ago, Gary33 said:

would really appreciate if you could send me or point me in the right direction

No problem, here it is.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a23.pdf

 

Please note that this comes under the heading of non-licensed work. ie it can be done by anyone and obviously is not seen as high risk.

Of course they are wearing masks in the pictures. Why wouldn't you, if you knew?

 

Now please stop worrying yourself about what you have already completed.

 

btw  a test kit is not a test kit. It is a mask and a bag for putting a sample in, and you have done all that stuff.

[Gary33]

Thank you for your messages and Saveasteading for the link.

 

i think i will get the company back out and ask them to test the plaster and plasterboards. if it is in both the dust is everywhere as i have pulled every ceiling down in the house.

 

im coming to terms that is low risk for the floor tiles but im concerned about the plaster and plasterboard and think if it is in this then i need to leave the house and get someone in to completely clean the house. if possible.

[Ferdinand]

5 hours ago, Gary33 said:

Thank you for your messages and Saveasteading for the link.

 

i think i will get the company back out and ask them to test the plaster and plasterboards. if it is in both the dust is everywhere as i have pulled every ceiling down in the house.

 

im coming to terms that is low risk for the floor tiles but im concerned about the plaster and plasterboard and think if it is in this then i need to leave the house and get someone in to completely clean the house. if possible.

 

Watch out for costs, of course. This can be expensive.

 

So you need to decide where you wish to be on the risk / cost balance for each item.

[AliG]

I think you will require a test just to put your mind at rest.

 

However, asbestos was mainly used in insulating and fire proof products. It is unlikely to be in residential plaster/board. If you had ceiling tiles or Artex I would be more concerned.

 

Even if there is asbestos there, it is cumulative long term exposure that is most concerning and you would not have reached that point.