Asbestos - I can't sleep

I was visiting a house and it had asbestos vynil sheet flooring that was very very damaged. The house was all shut and it was a bit hard to breathe, but I thought it was just because the flooring (carpets) had been removed and it had been closed for a while. I had a little cough, but again, thought it was just normal dust.

My toddler was there, I was excited to show her our new house after very traumatic experiences. 

She was in there for 10 minutes, I believe, as she was more interested in the garden.

Later I found out the flooring was positive for asbestos. I can't eat or stop crying since. This was last week. I read awful things online and also that it's usually 100% asbestos in the paper backing. I don't know when someone tried to remove that, but maybe they tried to remove it right before I moved in. I was in there for maybe an hour and a half, total. It's a council house and they said they were going to remove it.

I'm really struggling with the possibility of this hurting my young child or taking me away from her too soon. 

  • Just to be clear. I was there first, opened the windows a bit and then I took her to see the house for around 10 minutes with the front and back doors also open. 

  • Hello AnaG, 

    Many people worry about similar situations when they think they may have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is still a very common substance and most people are exposed to a very small amount of asbestos fibres in their lives and yet asbestos related diseases are rare. So if you can, try not to be overly worried. It is regular occupational exposure to asbestos over many years that is known to increase the risk of lung disease and cancer, often two or three decades later.

    It's worth bearing in mind that practically everyone is exposed to asbestos and that low levels are present in our environment as it can be found in air and soil and yet very few people become ill. 

    According to the Health and Safety Executive (which is really about health and safety at work), short term exposures with asbestos will most likely have led to minimal exposure to fibres and is very unlikely to have any long-term ill health effects. You can read more about this by clicking here.

    You can read more about this on the Asthma and Lung UK website at this link.

    Easier said than done but try not to overly worry about this and remember you can always ring your GP if you are still concerned.

    Best wishes,

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator