Asbestos in hairdryers

[Makam8]

I've just recently discovered there's asbestos in over 90% of hairdryers made in the 1970s. Every time we've visited my in-laws (approx 2 weeks a year, washing&drying her hair approx 2-3 times a week) we have used their old hairdryer on my 6 year old daughter. It was a small convenience to not have to pack it when travelling there (which I now massively regret). I now realize that hairdryer has most likely contained asbestos due to age and has blown fibres on her face and hair when we've used it there for all these years.

I feel a wreck. In laws are going to dispose of it now that I told them about this danger, but feel like damage could already be done. I'm so upset with myself for not knowing this (and with in-laws for keeping it/offering it for use). Hairdryers never really used much in that home/by mother in law, only by us when we came to visit (hence why it's that age and still working probably).

I don't know what to do. Daughter is fit and well so far but I'm so anxious about this having an effect on her health.

Does anyone have any experience or advice on what to do?

We have a GP appointment in a few days (for something else) and will mention this at the appointment also to make a note on her/our records.

Surely even if this were true it can't be an issue. When you think of all the people who had their hair dried in the 70s there isn't some massive surge in asbestos issues within those people. I am one of them having grown up in the 60/70s.

Having looked it up this seems to be a small issue for some hairdressers in the US not a generalised problem. I really wouldn't worry.

There was a recall of home & salon dryers containing asbestos in 1979, do you know the year it was made? Or if it was even one of the brands that used it?

Realistically if it does contain asbestos, her exposure would have been quite low from such infrequent use

Your in laws are still alive and so are lots of people from the 70’s.

This is one of those things you can do absolutely nothing about, worrying is a total waste of time.

They think they got it in early/mid 70s so would have likely contained asbestos just by time of manufacture/purchase.

It's a Moulinex similar to this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166635105955?chn=ps&_ul=GB&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1IJzg0E8fTHujjVNI8u0rKA73&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=166635105955&targetid=1647205088280&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046026&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088280&abcId=9300866&merchantid=116569035&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxqayBhDFARIsAANWRnTcZDUoqWzZ08pVmbRuECl5nAjULk-ZhsPdewDMKVhjAbYEdsuOZfoaAh8wEALw_wcB

Thanks for the messages. I agree that it can be seen as a waste of time to worry about now (what's done is done & that most people have hopefully been fine growing up with these). It still makes me sick that she's been exposed to this however small the risk (little lungs) but will have to learn to live with it and hope the risk here was small

Thanks so much for posting. We didn’t have that one in the 70’s we had a luminous orange one which was probably a fire hazard!

The risk is so tiny and you didn’t even know when you used it. You can only deal with the information you have.

Be kind to yourself.

Hope you are feeling a bit better x