Newborn potentially exposed to amosite asbestos

I really hope someone can help me. Our soffits were made of amosite asbestos insulation board. We had them removed by a licensed company. However, when the manager came to walk round the property with us to make sure we were happy, I noted that there was lots of debris on the floor. Most of it was plastic from the new UPVC soffits, but there was two pieces of grey debris with white fibres sticking out of them. They were only small piece, about the same size as a crayon. When I pointed it out to the manager and said I was worried, he picked it up and put it in his pocket and said it wasn't asbestos, just probably some old putty. He then walked through the house to get to the back yard. However, my six week old son was on the couch which he walked past and then he chatted to me in there for about 15 minutes whilst my six week old was crying. I'm absolutely terrified that it was asbestos in his pocket and my newborn has breathed in the fibres. Please can someone advise or help me about this and any potential danger my newborn may have been exposed to. 

  • Hi there ..

    I wouldn't panic if I were you as when I was at secondary school, we played with asbestos mats that were under our bunson burners ... we even tried to see if they would catch light .. as in the 60s no one knew of any danger ... 

    So you could ask your G P to see what he says .. I know I've now had cancer but that was 50 years ago we used them ...  asbestos was everywhere then .. I think from what I've heard is it's breathing it in that's not good ... but I'm sure your G P will reashore you ..  Chrissie x

  • Hi 1sheep,don't worry aspestoses(sorry terrible spelling) is from long term exposure (years) when i was young about 20 my father bought some corogated sheets to recover his garage he told me to cut them for him i used an electrical cutter with a disc i could hardly see what i was doing so much dust i was two days doing it (weekend) father kept out of the way didn't find out till lot later they were aspestos sheets, that was over forty years ago my lungs still OK best wishes.... Billy 

  • From what you described it sounds like the removal contractor tried to hide a shoddy job. That being said the exposure limit to your newborn would have been minimal if it was pointed out on the ground externally and then pocketed. This is certainly not how it should be done and if anything he is exposing himself and whoever does his washing. 
     

    Asbestos cement soffits are very low risk and produce minimal fibre release however insulating board soffits are medium to high risk depending on the surface treatment. 
     

    somebody pointed out asbestosis is only down to heavy exposure which is correct however mesothelioma can occur realistically after being exposed once. 
     

    All being said I would not be concerned personally however this is no excuse for shoddy workmanship especially around asbestos.

     

    hope this helps, any questions or further info feel free to ask as I am an asbestos professional.