How concerned would you be if you thought you had exposed asbestos in your living room?

[rickman]

That's it really!

Very! Hope it isn't asbestos rickman

What type of asbestos, where and in what condition ??
It's only hazardous if damaged & fibres get into air.

I'd call the council, as they have to remove it if it is asbestos, and they have tests to check...

I'd be concerned. There are three types of abestos (blue, white and another one I can't remember), only one of the types is actually carcinogenic and dangerous if 'disturbed'. Get a specialist (preferably personally recommmended) abestos bloke in to check it out.

Look it up on Google images!!

And then call the counciL!!

NDP - the other one is brown! They are all hazardous but to greater or lesser extents. All types should be treated with caution & only removed by suitably competent people

We have asbestos boards in our intergral garage, we are have them removed under controlled and very expensive conditions at the end of the month. This is because our living room is on top of it and we need to installate.

The man who tested it wouldn't even let me watch, that is how dangerous it can be. Our boards are in great condition so if left alone they would be fine. But damaged ones could be very risky.

I've had some removed from my kitchen recently, but my living room has these steel supporting pillars and they are coated in something, possibly asbestos. The stuff has chipped and the stuff is flaking out of it, it's definitely not in good condition.

I few of the workmen who were fitting the new kitchen had a look and they thought it was likely that it might be, as an asbestos coating would give strength to the steel if there was a fire.

I've rung my housing association and after waiting over a week for someone to come out, the man didn't know what it was but he couldn't say it wasn't asbestos.

He went back to his office and they told him they would be doing a review of asbestos in HA buildings in a couple of months and they'd send someone round to paint over it then. I told him that wasn't good enough and I wanted something done sooner.

The reason I'm getting irritated is that there was an article in the local paper last week, where families were moved out of army barracks because asbestos was found in their outside store sheds. This stuff is in my living room!

Personally I would kick up a rumpus until it had been identified (or not)

very

What else can I do though?

Half of me wonders whether I should even be here, but the HA seem to think I'm making a fuss about nothing.

If you are worried about more damage or more of the 'stuff' dropping off - you could very carefully try & seal it up - but if it is stable as it is, I would leave alone & pester everyday until you get an answer.
If you have kids - explain how concerned for their safety you are with this unknown material

GET IT CHECKED OUT - one type is highly carcenogenic - don't really know about the others - although clearly not good for you !! A single fibre in the lungs shows itself many many years later.

The HA are acting illegally. IF it is asbestos it poses a real threat to your health and should be dealt with as an IMMEDIATE priority.
Phone the council and report them.

Not at all unless it was broken up - it's usually from breaking it up and inhaling the debris that problems occur, rather than from it just being there untouched.

OH ,just read it was flaking - well I'd kick up a right fuss - I'd very worried about that.

Just to stress - all types of asbestos are dangerous

loads of stuff on the net \link{http://www.lhc.org.uk/members/pubs/factsht/56fact.htm\example here}

blue , white and brown are the three different types

Are you sure it is asbestos, or is it just that one person thinks it might be?

In general if it is intact it is OK. Contact the HA and have them check what it is first. If it is asbestos and it is chipped then it should be removed.

3 of the workmen who were here thought it probabaly was but none of them knew for sure. Obviously if it is asbestos they will have to sort it out but is it likely to have had any effect on my kids health? That's what is worrying me.

I would say, if it is flaking off, then it is in the atmosphere and yes, probably is your answer.
I'd take them to stay elsewhere until it is sorted, it really is that serious rickman.

Rickman - I asked a surveyor about this and he said that you should phone your local council TOMORROW and ask to speak to the public analyst. Tell them you suspect you have asbestos in the house and you have children. They should come and take an air sample and a physical sample and determine if there is a risk. You don't have to pay. If they won't help contact the health and safety executive

In the meantime, wrap the pillar with clingfilm and heat it with a hairdryer to get a good seal

Oh god, this is stressing me out now. Thanks for that Kristina, I will ring tomorrow. The man from the HA is ringing me back tomorrow to tell me what they intend to do.

I've been living with the stuff like this for a good few months now, only realised it could be asbestos when the work started on my kitchen. I should have done something sooner. :(

Rickman - how did you get on with the council??

Apparently artexed walls and ceilings pre-2000 (think that's the correct date) may have asbestos in it and you have to have it checked out before you remove it!

I rang them this morning and they were very vague. They said they would try and hurry up the HA but if they refused to do anything, then it would mean taking them to court which would take for ever.

All I want is for someone to come round and tell me what it is. If I'm worrying for nothing, I will be so relieved but if not I'll never forgive myself. I left xp and ended up here and thought it would be a new start for us, how guilty would I feel if all I've done is put them at risk.