Hi,

I have been reading through all the posts about asbestos exposure in the home, but cannot find anything related to my particular concern.  I have an old suspended kitchen ceiling with tiles that - according to all my online research and based on their appearance - are highly likely to contain asbestos.  Some of the tiles have spotlights which are a devil to replace because any pressure means the tiles just push up into the void above. For many years I have noticed fraying around each spotlight (bad enough) but today I tried to replace a light and disturbed the fraying tile. Since I was up a ladder I was breathing in the dust (I could see)  for about four or five minutes. Then I vacuumed the debris from the floor, only to learn that this is the worst thing to do.  I am also concerned because I have recently been using a new, high powered dehumidifier that blows a lot of air around my small kitchen; so now I am wondering if it has been dislodging and blowing unseen particles around my tiny kitchen for the past six months.

I have a chronic fear of stomach cancer because it is prevalent in my family. I would like to avoid developing another neurotic obsession with lung cancer due to my kitchen tiles and today's debacle.  Any reassurance and/or practical advice would be much appreciated.  

Spacey