Re: questions about asbestos..

[Guest guest]

My nephew does asbesto removial. They literially go in with special

space like suites. They are covered from head to toe and wear

special breathing gear to keep from breathing toxins. Now my

deceased father on the other hand said he used the stuff all of his

life and it did not harm him. This was before it was a known health

threat...he had a host of issues that were blamed on some horrible

accidents he had but who knows what affect it had on him. My older

sisters said we use to play in asbesto piles when we were young and

that could had contributed to our inherited liver conditions..but who

knows what causes what! There is so much stuff in the enviroment that

can make us ill, it is no telling...btw, I don't remember playing in

asbesto! My older sisters tend to not tell things right anyway so I

take them with a grain of salt!

>

> Hi all,

>

> I know it's been awhile. But I have a quick question. As my husband

and

> I have worked through the possible mold issue, we discovered that we

> have the original tile in our home (50+ years old). We've been told

it

> is made from asbestos. We know that the tile is falling apart in

places

> where there is not carpeting over it. Is there a quick easy

solution to

> cleaning this up? Can having this tile in our home be contributing

to

> some of the illness problems we have?

>

> TIA

>

> --

> W.

> reneewo@...

>

[Guest guest]

I once owned a home that was over 50 years old also. The bathroom had

those old tiles. I couldn't help notice how much mold was growing in

the grout. If I hadn't moved, I would have had all those tiles

replaced.

[Guest guest]

,

Asbestos has not been connected with allergy, asthma type problems

like mold or chemicals have. Asbestos is very specific - lung cancer -

and it takes approximately 20-30 years or more after heavy or

consistent exposures before it (usually) occurs.

If the asbestos containing material (something that has asbestos in

it because it doesn't have to be only asbestos itself) is not

disturbed you won't be exposed. No exposure, no harm. The best way to

contain it is to leave it alone where it is. Or a sealant can be

applied or another method of isolating it. Removal disturbs it and

can lead to exposure.

With your old tile in a failing condition you have been exposed. But

is it enough for a long enough period of times? How long has it been

breaking up? It's already been 50 years without lung cancer. Keeping

it covered or applying a sealant may be enough. If it is removed you

need to be aware of how much material (sq feet) will be removed so

you can comply with Federal and State laws.

Check state and federal laws about asbestos and asbestos inspection

and asbestos removal requirements. Usually if the total area is less

than about 100 square feet (it varies) you can do it yourself without

violating law. But you MUST check the laws to be sure!

Start with the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/

One of the EPA pages is specifically for asbestos in homes:

http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html

Check with your state, also. Colorado, my state, has an excellent Web

site with SPECIFIC instructions and excellent advise.

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/index.html

One of their fact sheets is at:

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/renodemo.pdf

Your state may be different so be sure to check it with the proper

authorities (I am not one! Especially for other states!) Unlike

mold, asbestos has Permissible Exposure Limits along with definitive

sampling methods, lab analysis and interpretations.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Hi all,

>

> I know it's been awhile. But I have a quick question. As my husband and

> I have worked through the possible mold issue, we discovered that we

> have the original tile in our home (50+ years old). We've been told it

> is made from asbestos. We know that the tile is falling apart in places

> where there is not carpeting over it. Is there a quick easy solution to

> cleaning this up? Can having this tile in our home be contributing to

> some of the illness problems we have?

>

> TIA

>

> --

> W.

> reneewo@...

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks! We have long term goals for this house and just wanted to make

sure that it was okay to leave the tile alone until we can afford to do

what needs to be done.

n Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:48:42 -0600

" Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

> ,

>

> Asbestos has not been connected with allergy, asthma type problems

> like mold or chemicals have. Asbestos is very specific - lung cancer -

> and it takes approximately 20-30 years or more after heavy or

> consistent exposures before it (usually) occurs.

>

> If the asbestos containing material (something that has asbestos in

> it because it doesn't have to be only asbestos itself) is not

> disturbed you won't be exposed. No exposure, no harm. The best way to

> contain it is to leave it alone where it is. Or a sealant can be

> applied or another method of isolating it. Removal disturbs it and

> can lead to exposure.

>

> With your old tile in a failing condition you have been exposed. But

> is it enough for a long enough period of times? How long has it been

> breaking up? It's already been 50 years without lung cancer. Keeping

> it covered or applying a sealant may be enough. If it is removed you

> need to be aware of how much material (sq feet) will be removed so

> you can comply with Federal and State laws.

>

> Check state and federal laws about asbestos and asbestos inspection

> and asbestos removal requirements. Usually if the total area is less

> than about 100 square feet (it varies) you can do it yourself without

> violating law. But you MUST check the laws to be sure!

>

> Start with the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/

> One of the EPA pages is specifically for asbestos in homes:

> http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html

>

> Check with your state, also. Colorado, my state, has an excellent Web

> site with SPECIFIC instructions and excellent advise.

> http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/index.html

> One of their fact sheets is at:

> http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/renodemo.pdf

>

> Your state may be different so be sure to check it with the proper

> authorities (I am not one! Especially for other states!) Unlike

> mold, asbestos has Permissible Exposure Limits along with definitive

> sampling methods, lab analysis and interpretations.

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I know it's been awhile. But I have a quick question. As my husband

> > and I have worked through the possible mold issue, we discovered

> > that we have the original tile in our home (50+ years old). We've

> > been told it is made from asbestos. We know that the tile is

> > falling apart in places where there is not carpeting over it. Is

> > there a quick easy solution to cleaning this up? Can having this

> > tile in our home be contributing to some of the illness problems we

> > have?

> >

> > TIA

> >

> > --

> > W.

> > reneewo@...

> >

> >

> >

> > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

You're welcome. However I need to make one clarification about

leaving the tile alone as it is. The areas where it is " falling apart

in places " may need to be addressed. If there are small pieces

crumbling into dust they should be carefully cleaned and then protect

the rest from more disturbance. An occasional chip requires less

action. If you aren't sure about the situation contact me off-line to

discuss the distinctions.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Thanks! We have long term goals for this house and just wanted to make

> sure that it was okay to leave the tile alone until we can afford to do

> what needs to be done.

>

> n Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:48:42 -0600

> " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

>

> > ,

> >

> > Asbestos has not been connected with allergy, asthma type problems

> > like mold or chemicals have. Asbestos is very specific - lung cancer -

> > and it takes approximately 20-30 years or more after heavy or

> > consistent exposures before it (usually) occurs.

> >

> > If the asbestos containing material (something that has asbestos in

> > it because it doesn't have to be only asbestos itself) is not

> > disturbed you won't be exposed. No exposure, no harm. The best way to

> > contain it is to leave it alone where it is. Or a sealant can be

> > applied or another method of isolating it. Removal disturbs it and

> > can lead to exposure.

> >

> > With your old tile in a failing condition you have been exposed. But

> > is it enough for a long enough period of times? How long has it been

> > breaking up? It's already been 50 years without lung cancer. Keeping

> > it covered or applying a sealant may be enough. If it is removed you

> > need to be aware of how much material (sq feet) will be removed so

> > you can comply with Federal and State laws.

> >

> > Check state and federal laws about asbestos and asbestos inspection

> > and asbestos removal requirements. Usually if the total area is less

> > than about 100 square feet (it varies) you can do it yourself without

> > violating law. But you MUST check the laws to be sure!

> >

> > Start with the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/

> > One of the EPA pages is specifically for asbestos in homes:

> > http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html

> >

> > Check with your state, also. Colorado, my state, has an excellent Web

> > site with SPECIFIC instructions and excellent advise.

> > http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/index.html

> > One of their fact sheets is at:

> > http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/asbestos/renodemo.pdf

> >

> > Your state may be different so be sure to check it with the proper

> > authorities (I am not one! Especially for other states!) Unlike

> > mold, asbestos has Permissible Exposure Limits along with definitive

> > sampling methods, lab analysis and interpretations.

> >

> > Carl Grimes

> > Healthy Habitats LLC

> >

> > -----

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > I know it's been awhile. But I have a quick question. As my husband

> > > and I have worked through the possible mold issue, we discovered

> > > that we have the original tile in our home (50+ years old). We've

> > > been told it is made from asbestos. We know that the tile is

> > > falling apart in places where there is not carpeting over it. Is

> > > there a quick easy solution to cleaning this up? Can having this

> > > tile in our home be contributing to some of the illness problems we

> > > have?

> > >

> > > TIA

> > >

> > > --

> > > W.

> > > reneewo@...

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> > >

> > >

> > >