About that Asbestos...

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Jbox brought up a good point in another thread (and I didn't want to derail it with most discussion, so I started this one)

I think he was right to point out the dangers of doing any work with Asbestos. I certainly don't want to give the impression that I am a professional, and that Asbestos removal is something people shouldn't be concerned about.

Until recently, me and my fiancee' were unaware that the Asbestos in our basement had been improperly removed...even though we've been living in the house for 6 months now! Our inspector missed this fact (or else we would have negotiated something before we purchased the house) and it wasn't brought to our attention until we have our heating system serviced for our first winter in the house.

Two facts I would like to note, however:
1) We have a radiant steam heat system in our house, so fortunately, huge volumes of basement air were not circulated throughout the house. Although, that doesn't mean we are not concerned, since air is air...and it moves around.
2) It appears that whoever previously removed the asbestos DID use an encapsulant. I found a piece of pipe sheathing that did not manifest the same qualities as untreated Asbestos material. They just didn't clean off the caked-on asbestos around some of the the pipe elbows.

For the record, we did use masks with breathing filters rated for Asbestos, as well as protective eyewear, gloves and clothing. We made sure, at all times, that we had both a negative pressure seal and a positive pressure seal on the masks while we were in the basement. We used professional quality Asbestos encapsulant product (Fiberlock Penewet) on the remaining material. Sprayed it on lightly, until thoroughly saturated, then let it sit for 20 mins. The small amounts of wet material were then scrapped into a 3 mil contractor bag and then sealed. Then double-bagged.

All tools used on the Asbestos were thrown away into the bags as well. Our clothing was put into the washer, and we showered immediately afterward. We are now scheduled to completely spray down (encapsulate) the entire basement area, and mop up anything that might be left over.

All of this was done even though we were dealing with relatively small amounts of asbestos. We know we were taking a risk, but we felt that 1) we've already been in the basement so often without protection that it's probably too late to worry about that now and 2) there just wasn't enough material, we felt, to warrant the full-on cost of removing it professionally.

Maybe it was a dumb decision, but we felt it was within reason, so we did the removal ourselves after much research (and a bit of consultation with professionals over the phone.) The amount of asbestos we described to them didn't raise any alarms, and we felt as if our preparations going forward were even a bit of overkill. That said, if anyone has any advice and/or words of wisdom for us to heed going forward, I am certainly all ears.

[HaRuMaN]

pfft...  I roll around in that stuff, rub it on my face, put it in my cereal...

[mr.Curmudgeon]

hehe....all this talk of Asbestos has me itchy and paranoid again. Usually it's just imaginary ants that are bothering me.   

[HaRuMaN]

I don't blame you for being paranoid.  I wouldn't want to be exposed to that stuff.

[ChadTower]

hehe....all this talk of Asbestos has me itchy and paranoid again. Usually it's just imaginary ants that are bothering me.   

Big drunk fat chicks in too much lipstick wearing bad wigs... oof.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I don't blame you for being paranoid.  I wouldn't want to be exposed to that stuff.

My understanding is that the true dangers of Asbestos are via an accumulative effect, not via limited exposure.
That, if you're exposed to fibers often, over time, there can be permanent damage to the lungs, via scarring etc.

In fact, so much Asbestos was used in construction from 1940 onward, that low levels of asbestos are still present in our air, water, and soil. And that we all - at one point or another - have already been exposed to this dreaded fiber!

I've never heard of the "single fiber" theory expressed in the other thread. But that sure freaked me out sumthin' fierce, even though I did my research and refused to go into this project lightly.

[shardian]

Asbestos is in everything and your lungs already have plenty in them. However, that kind of asbestos is considered normal exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. The real damage comes from localized exposure. Depending on the severity, one localized exposure can be very serious.

[Donkey_Kong]

pfft...  I roll around in that stuff, rub it on my face, put it in my cereal...

<Frank Rizzo> Put a little mustard on it and eat the ---smurfing--- ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---  </Frank Rizzo>

[Samstag]

In 10 years some new study will tout the positive effects of Asbestos and we'll be using it to season our food to prevent a newer and nastier malady.

That's why I've started hoarding it, while it's still cheap.