Why Is There Still Asbestos in My Home?
You might wonder why the asbestos acoustical ceilings and floor tile still exist if the danger has been known for many years. It is because of the nature of asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally and is actually still mined today in parts of the world. The danger is known, but for all of its negative connotations there still are uses for asbestos today. Many countries do not have the same restrictions on asbestos as the U.S. but its use has slowly diminished due to the known health risks. Asbestos is made up of fibers of varying size. These fibers are characterized by their needle-like points and ability to be breathed in. This is where the toxicity to humans comes from. Once the asbestos fibers are disturbed they break into microfibers and can become scattered into the air, and can then be inhaled into the lungs. Once a sufficient amount of asbestos is inhaled, the microfibers then lodge themselves into the lungs and in large enough numbers, cause all sorts of health problems. The airborne nature of asbestos is why it is so dangerous but it is also why asbestos still exists in many buildings, it is completely harmless unless disturbed.
What Can Be Done
Sealing
A common way of dealing with an asbestos ceiling is known a encapsulating. This is a way of reducing the risk of disturbance by painting the ceiling with special materials and essentially sealing off the asbestos. Does it work? Well to a point—any time a popcorn ceiling is struck, pieces fall off and could release asbestos into the air.
Drywall
Many of those with asbestos ceilings simply elect to cover the old surface with drywall. This seals in the asbestos and the risk of release is physically blocked by a false ceiling.
Removal