What is asbestos and where to find asbestos in homes?
Adapted from Guide to Asbestos in the Home, with permission
Homes built before the 1980s pose the highest risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos can be found in cement, floor tiles, insulation, walls, and pipes.
If you’re doing work on your home, like taking down walls or replacing floor tiles, take caution—without knowing if the materials that you’re handling contain asbestos, you could contaminate your air with toxic asbestos fibers.
This guide explains asbestos and its dangers. It identifies areas in a home where asbestos is commonly found and explains what to do if you suspect its presence.
What is asbestos, and what are the dangers associated with asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in the earth. It's a fibrous silicate mineral that displays high fiber strength and heat resistance, thus asbestos gained popularity in a variety of residential construction products for insulation and as a fire retardant. Greater awareness of asbestos as a toxic and carcinogenic material came to light in the mid-1950s, with a final ban that happened only in March 2024 (!!).
Asbestos when damaged, releases toxic fibers into the air which then pose a danger to anyone who inhales them. Asbestos exposure over a number of years causes several forms of cancer, among which mesothelioma, which forms tumors on the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
Where can asbestos be found in a house?
While asbestos use has declined since the 1970s, many older homes still contain asbestos, which can be commonly found in the following products:
Asbestos roofing felt for shingles
Asbestos insulation around steam pipes
Cement asbestos board siding/under-sheeting
Drywall
Popcorn ceiling
Vinyl floor tiles
Vermiculite insulation
How can I tell if a material in my house has asbestos?
Asbestos in household products is hard to spot by sight, though when damaged, asbestos materials may show small, fuzzy fibers and may look like frayed fabric.
However, seeing fibers protruding from a product does not mean it contains asbestos; only testing can confirm its presence.
If the building materials are in good condition or if you’re not planning a home remodel, testing is generally not required; the best option is to leave it alone and don’t touch it.
However, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing for asbestos if building materials are damaged or you plan on disturbing them during the process of remodeling. You should contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional and limit access to the area until testing can confirm the presence of asbestos.
MA resources for asbestos inspection, testing, and removal
Here’s the list of certified analytical labs, inspectors, and contractors in MA.
The most common testing method, Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), can range from $20 to $100 per sample. Some labs use Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which is more expensive and more accurate.
Massachusetts requires anyone planning a project involving asbestos abatement, removal, or disposal to notify:
The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) at least ten (10) working days, and
The Department of Labor Standards (DLS) at least ten (10) working days before beginning work.
In addition to notifying these state agencies, you should check with the board of health, building inspector, and fire department in your town or city to determine whether you need to notify them or obtain any local approvals before beginning work.
What happens if one is exposed to asbestos?
In general, it takes a lot of repeated exposure to asbestos for related conditions to develop. It is rare for someone to get sick from asbestos products in their home, but it is possible.
Most people with asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos at work for years. About 20% of heavily exposed asbestos workers end up developing a related condition.
Still, heavy, short-term asbestos exposures have been known to cause disease. According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report on asbestos, “No evidence of a threshold or safe level of exposure has been found.”
If you are concerned that you were exposed to asbestos, start by talking to your primary care physician. Tests can show asbestos fibers in lung tissue, lung fluid, urine, stool, and mucus. They aren’t used because they can’t predict who will develop a disease.
There are tests to detect asbestos-related diseases. Your doctor can order scans that show signs of asbestos-related disease.
Asbestos-related conditions are hard to detect. Not all primary care doctors have the tools and experience to diagnose them.
If you know for certain that you were exposed to asbestos, it is a good idea to seek annual screenings from a qualified lung specialist, such as an occupational pulmonologist. Most asbestos-related diseases are diagnosed at least 15 years after exposure.