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Asbestos

Hi,

This might seem like a silly question but to put my wondering mind at ease I thought it best to ask.

A friend of mine was recently renovating and removed a section of wall that was bonded asbestos. I have asked and they took the appropriate measures of carefully removing the section of wall and wearing a mask.

Later that evening I went around to inspect the progress of the renovation. My friend mentioned the removal of the bonded asbestos wall and I started to get a little uneasy and it is only now my mind is racing about the situation.

The wall was long removed and there was nothing in the air I could see. However, my question is, could there have been still residual fibres in the air that would pose a risk to my health? Or is bonded asbestos, one removed from indoors, not something that typically would pose a threat? Also, if there was a chance some fibres were still airborne, would this short term limited exposure be considered significant in terms of cancer?

I hope this does not seem a silly question to ask.

Thank you in advance.
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hello Matt,

Please forgive the delay in the reply.

It is possible that there were "residual fibers" present in the space and the concentration is really dependent on several factors including but not limited to the initial concentration, how long you were present in the space, and the ventilation/air exchange in the space.

Although I cannot say that your risk is absolutely zero, your risk is very close to zero in terms of life-time risk of asbestos related cancer.

Asbestos fibers from indoor sources may pose significant health risks--including bonded asbestos, when/if sheets/materials are broken and fibers become airborne.

Lastly, we welcome these types of questions in the Medhelp.org forums because invariably, you are not the only one with this type of concern, question or experience.

~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply, Dr Parks. I really appreciate it. I cannot praise this website enough for the service it provides. I think anxiety got the better of me but you hear so much about asbestos so it is hard not to get a bit carried away, no matter how minor the exposure. Thanks again for the detailed response and taking the time to reply. I do appreciate it.
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