Is this asbestos?

Kellez

Hi,

I am stripping out a house and i found this fixed to both the sides of a fireplace hiding copper pipes behind.

is this asbestos?



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ariba10

It looks like Asbestos Cement sheet.
Relatively harmless.
If you want to dispose of it most Council Amenities sites will take if it is double wrapped.
Check with your council.

If you have to break it into smaller pieces give a good soaking first to minimise the dust and wear a mask.

Kellez

Bad news is that when i was braking it, it was covered with wall paper and i didnt see what it was, the next bad think is that i wasnt wearing my face mask at that time.

With such small exposure is it possible to get cancer?

leveller2911

I wouldn't worry yourself as "Masterboard" cement board had very little if any asbestos in it and there are different types of asbestos (white,brown and blue). The vast majority of it is not dangerous.Any dust can be dangerous if inhaled frequently or ignited from a dust cloud including flour..

Fact: Talcum powder is also made from the same rock that asbestos is manufactured from. Talc is harmless unless you breathe in the dust for weeks on end at a time.

The places where asbestos tended to be a problem were schools,warships,submarines etc and that was always pipe lagging.

They still sell "masterboard" cement board btw..

wallbash

With such small exposure is it possible to get cancer?

Should think about the same risk as standing in sunlight , passing a pub doorway ( fighting past the stupid smokers) or consuming that extra banger at your last BBQ.

to sum up ......no!

Davesnave

Kellez wrote: »

Bad news is that when i was braking it, it was covered with wall paper and i didnt see what it was, the next bad think is that i wasnt wearing my face mask at that time.

With such small exposure is it possible to get cancer?

It's very unlikely that a one-time small exposure (if there was any) would lead to cancer.

Some of us can remember smashing-up sheets of the stuff back in the days when it was 'just asbestos,' and we haven't developed lung disease yet, or worried unduly about it.

What's past is past, so whether it was decades ago or just a few hours is academic; it's what happens from now on that we can influence. Just wear a mask in future when doing demolition.

Kellez

Ok everyone thank you for your comforting words. For a moment i thought i was going to die soon, i !!!! my self.