Asbestos In Attic Dangerous

The most common way for asbestos fibers to enter the body is through breathing.

Asbestos in attic dangerous.

In fact asbestos containing material is not generally considered to be harmful unless it is releasing dust or fibers into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. As will be discussed in a moment these fibrils can cause serious and even fatal illnesses. One of the most common materials containing asbestos fibers is attic and wall insulation. But just because your insulation is old doesn t mean it is dangerous.

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. Children are not allowed in the attic. In older homes specifically asbestos may be found in many different materials from pipe insulation to flooring adhesive to roof shingles. Once vermiculite is disturbed millions of asbestos fibers become airborne.

By the 1990 s however asbestos had been phased out of most new american homes in favor of safer materials. These fibers consist of millions of microscopic fibrils. Asbestos was a popular material for most of the twentieth century mainly because of its ability to insulate and act as a fire retardant. Consider this statement from research titled zonolite attic insulation exposure studies where even the suggested method for removal by the manufacturer.

Asbestos was incorporated in the insulation of different types including attic insulation. In addition to being fireproof and insulating asbestos can also help with soundproofing. Asbestos becomes dangerous when its fibers released into the air whether in a factory or during a home renovation. Asbestos is dangerous because it contains what is known as fibrous crystals.

Even small movements can send asbestos particles into the air. Asbestos is very dangerous and can cause serious health complications if you ingest or inhale it. If the asbestos is undisturbed and it s sealed away from your home s living space such as in a ventilated attic or inside the walls many homeowners decide to leave vermiculite insulation alone rather than spending thousands of dollars on remediation. In fact it s still used heavily in some parts of the world such as india and china.

The attic is not used for storage or any other use. Check the underside of your roof for a white or gray rough coating. The asbestos found in vermiculite is extremely friable and is the most dangerous type amphibole of asbestos. Asbestos spray coating was a commonly used way to insulate a roof and sometimes the sides of buildings.

If you have vermiculite based insulation in your attic it may contain asbestos. To avoid exposure to asbestos fibres do not disturb vermiculite based attic insulation in any way or attempt to remove it yourself. Look in your attic for loose fill asbestos.