Is There Asbestos In My Attic

Despite their many uses the canadian government recognizes that inhaling asbestos particles can cause cancer and other diseases so it is important to be aware of potential asbestos contaminated materials in your home.

Is there asbestos in my attic.

There are many different kinds of wool like insulation that are man made and do not have asbestos but if your attic insulation looks like wool than it is best to be safe and have it tested by a professional. Asbestos is actually a natural fiber so if your attic insulation looks like wool there is a slight chance that it will contain asbestos. The types of insulation that were most commonly made with asbestos are loose fill also called blown in insulation. There are other sources of asbestos in attic insulation but this single source significantly outpaces the others the primary source of asbestos attic insulation is from a specific mine in montana operated for 70 years by the libby company according to the environmental protection agency.

There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Used for fireproofing and insulation asbestos was a cheap and effective material that became an industry standard for buildings across the country. Loose fill insulation comes in a variety of materials. Asbestos fibers must be airborne to cause a health risk through inhalation so the first step is not to disturb the material which would release more fibers into the air.

Attic insulation may contain asbestos too and just like the other asbestos containing materials and products it entails a great risk of developing severe diseases such as mesothelioma or lung cancer especially if it is in poor condition. Attic insulation in older homes may contain asbestos that could fall through ceiling cracks. If your home was built before 1990 and you have vermiculite insulation or if your house was built prior to 1970 it s likely that you have some form of asbestos in your attic or elsewhere. If you see white tape on your ducts as shown in the photo above vermiculite insulation in your attic as shown below it s probably not causing a problem as long as it s undisturbed.

If you have a particular brand of insulation in your home you may have asbestos in your attic. The insulation was sold under the brand name zonolite. If your attic or wall insulation is in batt or blanket form whether it s fiberglass cellulose or another material you generally don t have to be concerned about asbestos. While remodeling the attic of his 1960s home john found piles of brown pebble like insulation.

Vermiculite insulation which may contain the tremolite types of asbestos is a big enough topic that i ll write a whole article about it later. There is one primary source of asbestos attic insulation.