Question 1

what does blue asbestos do to a person's health?

Accepted Answer

Potentially bad: There are many types of naturally occurring asbestos, and they have common names. Crocidolite is known as blue asbestos. It has amphibole fibers that are thought to be the most dangerous to health when they get into the lungs or digestive tract. There are established procedures to protect people from exposure. Learn more here: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/

Question 2

pulled down old vinyl wallpaper in a condo built in the 50s. not sure if it was wet or not.read vinyl could have 6-8% asbestos. what is my risk?

Accepted Answer

No risk, no worry: Asbestos is a risk only after repeated exposure. A single event isn't anything to worry about.

Question 3

after so many years, are mesotheliomas and asbestos still a problem in the u.s.?

Accepted Answer

Possible: Asbestos is no longer used, still could a problem for very few who were exposed years ago.

Question 4

does that popcorn ceiling in out 1960's or 1970's house contain asbestos, and would it be bad for my baby?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Get it removed!: Asbestos, i'm afraid, was commonly used in those ceilings. To be sure, you can send a sample to a testing company (it costs about $100 to test a whole house).  If it's there, get the ceiling removed professionally, don't do it yourself! scraping that junk off stirs up lots of dust and you could breathe it in. If your ceiling tests asbestos-free, it's safe.

Question 5

my dad did renos in our home in the 80's. how concerned should i be of asbestos exposure? i was only a child at the time. home was built in 1958.

Accepted Answer

Depends: If the home was first renovated in the 80s after being built in the 50's there is a good chance that asbestos was present and possibly released during renovation.  There may be records of the building materials used when the home was built and the details of the renovation-check to see if these are available at the local city hall archives.

Question 6

where exactly do asbestos come from?

Accepted Answer

It is mined: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined, much like gold, copper and coal. It is composed largely of silicon and has been used for everything from insulation to fire-proofing. When the fibers are inhaled, they can cause significant lung damage and disease. It has been largely banned from building materials in the us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/asbestos.

Question 7

what happens with exposure to asbestos?

Accepted Answer

Typically none: There usually are no symptoms from asbestos exposure until long after permanent damage is done. The small asbestos fibers get lodged in the lung tissues and over time they cause damage that leads to breathing problems. Before there are any symptoms changes can be seen on chest xrays. So it is important to be evaluated by a doctor familiar with this condition (pulmonogist or occupational doctor).

Question 8

what does minor exposure to asbestos mean?

Accepted Answer

No good definition.: There's no quantifiable definition for a "minor exposure" to asbestos.  I'd take it to mean contact with clothing, hair or skin of another person that has come into contact with asbestos.  Traditionally, the spouses and children of those who've had asbestos exposure and contact through their clothes, we say have had minor (but still significant) exposure.

Question 9

how long does asbestos dust last outdoors?

Accepted Answer

Asbestos : Asbestos is a thin crystal mineral.  It won't just disappear or evaporate because it's outside but it will be diluted, if you will by the clean outside air.One or two forms of asbestos are dangerous to your health. This is the case when they are found in the air in high enough concentrations.Thats why it's actually more dangerous during removal than it usually is left in place.

Question 10

what are the symptoms of asbestos exposure?

Accepted Answer

None.: There are no immediate symptoms of asbestos exposure unless the exposure was so overwhelming as to cause irritation to the air passages  but this is an irritant effect from the physical "dust" and could include cough and phlegm production. The serious symptoms and signs of asbestos exposure occur years after exposure, at least 15 years later. Shortness of breath is the classic symptom.

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Doctor answers about:

Blue asbestos

A member asked:

What does blue asbestos do to a person's health?

A member asked:

Pulled down old vinyl wallpaper in a condo built in the 50s. not sure if it was wet or not.read vinyl could have 6-8% asbestos. what is my risk?

A member asked:

After so many years, are mesotheliomas and asbestos still a problem in the u.s.?

A member asked:

Does that popcorn ceiling in out 1960's or 1970's house contain asbestos, and would it be bad for my baby?

A member asked:

My dad did renos in our home in the 80's. how concerned should i be of asbestos exposure? i was only a child at the time. home was built in 1958.

A member asked:

Where exactly do asbestos come from?

A member asked:

What happens with exposure to asbestos?

A member asked:

What does minor exposure to asbestos mean?

A member asked:

How long does asbestos dust last outdoors?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of asbestos exposure?

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