Asbestos. Most homes more than 20 years old are likely to have asbestos. Sources include deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed pipe insulation, fireproofing, or acoustical material and floor tiles.
There is not a designated instructional module for asbestos, but check out the Hidden Environmental Hazards for the Home Remodeler or Home IAQ Overview Instructional Modules from our Training Manual for more information, or read some Q&A below.

To protect yourself and your family from asbestos, find out whether you're at risk. Here are some common questions and answers.

Probably the largest single source of asbestos in the indoor air we breathe is insulation. No "safe" exposure threshold for asbestos has been established, but the risk of disease generally increases with the length and amount of exposure. Manufacture and use of asbestos is now prohibited in the U.S. 

Q: I am looking at a home to buy. It has asbestos siding. What needs to be done?
A: 
1.) If the siding is in good condition -- not broken or crumbling -- it may be painted over or covered with other material. 
2.) It is more hazardous to remove it than to contain it. 
3.) If it is deteriorated -- broken and crumbling -- and it has to be removed, a certified asbestos contractor should be hired to do the job. The waste has to be handled according to requirements and disposed of in an approved hazardous waste landfill. Your state environmental agency can give you information on handling and disposal. 

Q: I have a "popcorn" ceiling in my home. Does it contain asbestos? If so, what needs to be done? 
A: To find out, dampen a small area with a spray bottle of water, take a very small sample, put it in a zip lock plastic bag or a film cannister and take it to a state certified asbestos lab for analysis. Call your state environmental agency to get a list of certified labs. 

If the material contains asbestos, you can leave it alone if it is in good condition -- not broken and crumbling. You can paint over it to contain and stabilize the material. It is more hazardous to remove the material than to leave it alone or contain it. 

There are no federal regulations covering removal of asbestos from a private residence; however, your state may have regulations which you would be required to follow if you chose to remove material containing asbestos from your home. Contact your state environmental agency. Federal regulations do require that any material removed from a private residence be packaged in a specific manner and disposed of in an approved hazardous waste landfill. 

Q: How can I find out if the floor tile in my home contains asbestos? If it does, what can I do about it? 
A: The only way to find out if the floor tile contains asbestos is to take a small sample to a certified lab for analysis. Contact your state environmental agency for a list of certified labs and for regulations on removal, containment and disposal. They are the same as for other materials in the home (above). 

Q: I have to install a new furnace in my home. The old furnace pipes are covered with asbestos, and if they are cut through will become damaged. The furnace company will not work on them. What can be done?
A: Call your state environmental agency for a possible asbestos contractor to do the job.

Q: If I have a pile of vermiculite in my yard or a bag of it in my house, what should I do with it? 
A: The only way to find out if the vermiculite contains asbestos is to take a small sample to a certified lab for analysis. 

• If piles or bags of vermiculite are disturbed, it could cause tiny asbestos particles to become airborne.
• Airborne asbestos can be breathed in causing lung damage.
• If it is not in the air, it is not dangerous to your lungs. 
• EPA recommends limiting your exposure to any dust from the vermiculite, including remodeling.

“www.healthyindoorair.org” is a partnership program of the Montana State University Extension Service - Housing Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the Healthy Homes Partnership - Alabama Cooperative Extension System @ Auburn University, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, , and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Indoor Environments Division.