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Asbestos in artex.

AllyKev1949
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Hi all,

Hoping someone can help as I'm going crazy over here.

We have lived in a home with asbestos in the ceilings for around 8 years...well most likely have due to the age of the buildings. I've seen so many posts about the risks of exposure from removing or causing dust from ceilings etc but wondered given the recent article in the press about how asbestos becomes more fragile over time (i.e. not just a risk when disturbed) is it safe to be living here? Hoping to move this year however just can't put this out my mind and wondered if anyone has been in a similar position or has family/themselves lived in a similar property who haven't developed any issues from this. I suppose just looking for some peace of mind until we can get away from the current place but can't seem to find it. 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read.

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    Hi AllyKev1949. Welcome to the forum.

    Before starting out, it's worth knowing that asbestos comes in three forms, colloquially called White, Brown and Blue.  Whilst none of these is "safe", White asbestos is the least harmful, and this is the form that was put into textured coatings. The amount varied between 1 to 4%.

    I live in a house built in the 1970s with Artex ceilings, as were nearly all the houses around me - and yet after living here since 1978 I've never heard of a single case of anyone getting sick from asbestosis.  So, although there is a risk, there's really no point in panicking.  As long as the ceiling is undamaged and in good condition, it will not be releasing fibres and is best left alone. 

    We have regularly painted the ceilings and this is probably helping to keep the fibres sealed safety in.  I have wondered about overpainting them them with dilute PVA glue, or maybe adding some PVA to the paint next time we decorate to further help with adhesion, but I need to seek advice that this won't make matters worse.

    So my advice is to be aware but there is no need for any panic.

     

     

  • Offline in reply to telemando

    Thanks so much for that! I think it's my OCD just getting to me of late. Noticed several cracks along the ceilings, so faint they're more or less invisible to the naked eye but I can't sleep thinking about them.

     

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