So scared about potential asbestos exposure

[JaneS]

We moved into our house about 12 months ago, was so excited about the potential this property had and how it would become our dream home when all the building work was completed, now I feel like my whole world is crashing down on me and I just don't know how to get away from this spiral of worry. Our builders began work 10 weeks ago on the extension etc. We are having massive renovations and they are about half way through the work now. We are living in the property at the same time as can't afford to move out. My husband who is very good at DIY decided to rip up all the old parquet flooring in 3 rooms downstairs. This has left a coating of bitumen on the concrete floors which now has to be removed. I did some research and found to my horror that the bitumen 'may' contain asbestos (house is 1951)! We have a specialist floorer who is coming to do the job next week, to scrabble the floor and grind it all off. He said it is unlikely to contain it but will be taking all the necessary precautions, extraction machines etc and we have to move out for a couple of days whilst he does it. My main concern is not so much this as the fact that my husband removed the parquet in the first place (now stored in the garden) and the whacked up with builder's drill some of the concrete in the hall which had e bitumen on top. It was only a metre squared patch which he broke up but I am now freaking out that he may have exposed us all to asbestos fibres. I helped him clear it all up! I am also now worried that the fibres are all over the house and daren't clean up anything dusty as I may be at risk. Despite reassurances from the builders that it is not a problem, I can't calm down or get it off my mind and it has blown my health anxiety out of all proportions. Of course i googled everything and whilst I understand the risk may be low, if any, I just feel that I don't want to be in this house any more, am resenting my husband big style and worried about my grown up children who live with us, not to mention the dog! If anyone has any advice or can help alleviate this major panic it would be great. Sos for the lengthy post!

[misslove]

I really doubt it's abestos. That is usually used on walls and ceilings. Never heard of it being on the floor. Trust what they say if it was a problem they would have you out of the house immediately.

[Fishmanpa]

Trust what they say if it was a problem they would have you out of the house immediately.

Exactly. The builders do this for a living and know. Would they risk exposing themselves?

Positive thoughts

[JaneS]

Thanks for your replies, problem is I did Google loads to try to get answers, bad move and read that some floor adhesives may have contained asbestos although it referred to the glue under vinyl tiles more so than wooden parquet flooring. This stuff is definitely tar based as it smells like it. I have even rung flooring companies to ask and they have said not to worry but can't get the negative thoughts out of my head that I am going to end up with an asbestos related disease. Lots of posts on this forum are very reassuring though and that does help. Still scared though, just want to get on and enjoy life!

[JaneS]

Can anyone offer any further help - still panicking that me and all the family are going to die of an asbestos related disease! Can't stop worrying - my stomach is in turmoil!

[Noivous]

Believe me you or your husband are in no danger of getting asbestos related diseases. One has to be exposed to it for extended periods of time (usually years) to "possibly" be harmed by it. Put that worry out of your mind. And that's even if the material has asbestos in it. Go about your life and forget it. Don't listen to the scary ad's (and they are meant to scare) about mesothelioma. You and your family are fine.

N.

[Fishmanpa]

Can anyone offer any further help - still panicking that me and all the family are going to die of an asbestos related disease! Can't stop worrying - my stomach is in turmoil!

Frankly, what can anyone say? Professionals in the trade have reassured you as well as several here. Your anxiety won't allow you to believe any of it unfortunately. Best advice is to stop googling!

Positive thoughts

[MyNameIsTerry]

Jane,

These asbestos ones are always hard because it's not like we can say "you've worried about that cancer for 12 months now, you would be very ill if you had it", with this one it's a very long time period involved.

The NHS do explain that it needs to be prolonged exposure normally.

I think you also need to remember that not all asbestos is equal. The ones that cause the vast majority of later problems were those used in industrial settings, the blue & brown ones. The one used in domestic residences was white asbestos and it is nowhere near as dangerous as those two other forms.

Googling is tricky on this one. You will come across sound medical advice but research into all this is still ongoing from what I've seen when I tried to look into it with others on here worrying about it and there are some conflicting studies out there which really don't help us on here.

I would ask the specialist floor guy (in terms of that floor). He will know more than the builders although the builders should know plenty about this too.

I remember reading around on forums about this and some people were saying they worked with it for many years and are now old...and still healthy. I can remember one guy saying they used to play in the white stuff at the warehouse where his dad worked!...and he was fine.

I believe that floor guy will say what the builders say. Whilst he is taking precautions, IF he suspected it was there I really think you would be told to vacate whilst he did that work. So, whilst it may create some doubt for you that he is being so careful, perhaps he is not being as careful as he would know he has to be IF he suspected it was actually in there? Do you see what I mean?

[JaneS]

Hi there

Thanks for your replies - he is asking us to move out whilst he clears the floors! I think though that this is because he wants to seal off the upstairs and he wants everything off the ground floor so he can move through the downstairs rooms easily. It would be difficult for us to live here as there would be no kitchen and the stairs have to come out to get access to that part of the concrete floor etc. etc. So it's possibly more of a practicality I think. He said it was unlikely the bitumen contained asbestos but I guess he doesn't want to take any risks and is wearing masks and ppe. Two of our builders who have been on loads of asbestos related courses have said they don't think it contains it and not to be worried at all, they would have no problem whacking it all up. I am more concerned now about the little bit of concrete that had bitumen on top that my husband whacked up (albeit a relatively small area) in the hall and the fact that I helped him clear up - we did have the front door open but no masks etc - is that classed as a short term exposure (if there is any asbestos in it??) - hubbie won't get it tested as he doesn't think it necessary, just so scared that we have all been exposed and are going to develop mesolethiamo (can't spell it!!).

[Noivous]

...no that's called zero exposure, Jane. You are fine. I get trained every year on hazardous waste. And asbestos is a huge part of the training. Believe me you're in no danger of getting mestolimmoertyuiinta...or however one spells mesothelioma. Sleep well.

N.

[Pamplemousse]

I think you also need to remember that not all asbestos is equal. The ones that cause the vast majority of later problems were those used in industrial settings, the blue & brown ones. The one used in domestic residences was white asbestos and it is nowhere near as dangerous as those two other forms.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case: brown asbestos was also used in domestic settings as AIB - Asbestos Insulation Board. Often used as soffits on 1960s houses (like mine).

To the OP: I genuinely would not worry about it - you seem to have employed good tradesmen that are aware of the potential risks and are acting appropriately. Others here have told you that your risk of developing anything is vanishingly small to the point of zero: listen to their sage advice.

[JaneS]

Thanks Noivous - your post was very reassuring - pamplemousses had me panicking again though, although it's not plasterboard so hopefully...!!

I have been in contact with a chap from Asbestos Watchdog UK who was really helpful (think someone posted a link to his website on this forum). He reassured me that we had nothing to be concerned about. If anyone else has worries check out their website and email them for info - his responses were prompt, informative and very helpful.

On a side note, our builders have been on site today working on the porch so are obviously not unduly concerned about the 'floor chap' who is merrily removing all the bitumen off the concrete downstairs! Me and family have managed to escape to a local hotel for a little P & Q!! Hooray!

[elevenoclock]

Hi to everyone,
I am currently having a nightmare with this issue. We live in an old 1930's house and moved in last year. The day we moved in the lino in the kitchen was all ripped, so I pulled it all up with the intention of replacing the flooring. Over a year later,not had a new floor (money related) and been living in house whole time (young children too). Around the edge of floor I thought old black paint,but on closer inspection and some googling im sure it's old bitumen which in most areas was sanded down but still left around the edge and in between floor boards. Since realising this last week (I feel such a fool) I have felt sick. We've been living with and walking on this for over a year and I'm beside myself with worry as to what I've exposed my children too. I've googled and no I shouldn't have, but looking for reassurance which as always Google doesn't provide. Thank you for any advice.