Aasbestos worry

Replacing taps on the bath meant my son in law had to remove bath panel which broke whilst doing so, and have since discovered it was asbestos. I live in the house, but wasn't present during removal, it was obviously short term expośure and I have destroyed carpet and deep cleaned all hard surfaces, curtains etc. What risk have I exposed myself to? I am worried sick, can't eat or sleep, and my son refuses to enter house with grandchildren. P!ease help with advice

  • Trouble with asbestos is long term exposure over years working with it in a cloud of asbestos dust , not just a broken panel being removed especially as you cleaned up well afterwards .

    When I was young about 16 I worked in a metal fabrication firm, and my father bought some corrugated panels for his garage walls and top none were right side so he asked me to cut them down with a disk grinder for him,.it took two days I was working in a cloud of dust for hours on end, didn't know till later they were asbestos . that was over 50 years ago and I now have cancer ( nothing to do with cutting those sheets) .its prostate cancer gone to other places .

    Your home is safe especially as asbestos has been removed and cleaned up .

    Billy

  • Hello there

    I am sorry to hear you and your family are so worried about asbestos.

    Evidence has shown that it is usually long term exposure to asbestos over many years through occupation without the use of protective equipment that can cause mesothelioma (the cancer linked to asbestos where the particles can be inhaled when broken up).

    I think it is highly unlikely there is any risk of harm to you or anyone else entering your home now.

    Best wishes

    Naomi

  • Hello Billy,

    Thank you for replying, your explanation has helped me to see things in a little more prospective, there are so many conflicting articles about the risk. My son works for Open Reach who are very keyed up on asbestos and went ballistic with me. The test showed it was a mix of white and brown, and as I said I have cleaned everything thoroughly once and will do it all again at least twice more. I contacted my Dr for support, but they haven't responded to me. I am becoming neurotic, and my mental health is suffering. I'm in contact with council as it is an ex council house bought by my mother in the early 2000s and there was no mention of any possibility of asbestos, and I have told them that I have been advised to have an air quality test and they must arrange and pay for it, still waiting on a reply to that. Thank you once again, Rosie x

  • Hello Naomi,

    Thank you for your reply. Please feel free to read my reply to Billygoatt.

    Rosie