is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the earth.
has been used in more than 3,000 different construction materials and manufactured products, including many found in your home.
could have been installed in your home through the late 1980s.
Why is it a problem?
When
disturbed, asbestos breaks down into very small fibers up to 1,200
times thinner than a human hair. When inhaled, they become trapped in
lung tissue. Medical research tells us that up to 30 years after we
have breathed them in, asbestos fibers can cause lung diseases and
cancer.
There's no known safe level of asbestos exposure.
That's why you need to protect you and your family's health. Anyone
working on asbestos materials in your home should take the right
precautions to stop asbestos fibers from being released into the air.
How do I know it's asbestos?
Check for asbestos markings on the material or its packaging.
Submit
a small sample to a laboratory and they will analyze it using a
microscope. Labs are listed in the Yellow Pages under "Asbestos -
Consulting and Testing." The Minnesota Department of Health also has a
list.
Hire a Minnesota-certified asbestos
inspector to sample the material and assess its condition. A list of
inspectors is available from the Minnesota Department of Health.
If you have asbestos in your home...
Leave it alone
Asbestos
is only a problem if asbestos fibers are released into the air. If the
asbestos material is in good repair and if it is not being disturbed,
then it will not release asbestos fibers. The safest and easiest option
may be to leave the asbestos material alone.
Repair it
Sometimes,
asbestos can be repaired. A few inches of torn, loose or frayed
asbestos tape wrap on heating ducts, for example, can be sealed with a
special paint called encapsulant or high quality duct tape. Check with
your hardware store or a safety supply store for materials to repair or
encapsulate asbestos.
Remove it
If the asbestos material is extensively damaged or if it needs to be disturbed, removing the material may be the best option.
If
you decide to have asbestos removed or if you have larger areas that
need to be repaired, you should know, that in most cases, it is illegal
to hire a person to do this work without an asbestos contractor's
license from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). These licensed
contractors employ removal and encapsulation techniques unavailable to
do-it-yourself homeowners, so the asbestos is handled safely. They also
perform air monitoring to see if the air in your home meets acceptable
standards at the end of the project. Get several bids on your project
and check references before choosing a contractor. The MDH has a list
of licensed asbestos contractors and a handout with what you need to be
aware of when you hire a contractor to do work in your home.
Minnesota
law regulates removal or encapsulation of asbestos-containing materials
from single- or multi-family homes in quantities greater than 10 linear
feet or 6 square feet. Some asbestos-containing materials covered under
the law include wallboard and spackle, insulation on heating pipes,
water pipes or furnace ducts, and furnace and water heater insulation.
Asbestos-containing flooring, roofing materials, siding and ceiling
materials in homes with four or fewer dwelling units are exempt from
MDH regulation. However, disturbing these materials is still dangerous
to your health.
Homeowners may legally remove asbestos
themselves from the single-family home they own and occupy. When
asbestos materials need to be disturbed, the MDH strongly recommends
using a Minnesota-licensed asbestos contractor.
