Hi Orangelime. Welcome to the forum.

I'm not a doctor nor am I an expert on asbestos. However, this question pops up regularly on this forum. 

The asbestos in Artex was Chrysotile, or white asbestos, and it made up about 2% of the mix. Whilst white asbestos cannot be called "safe", it is definitely the least hazardous form.  Furthermore the body will naturally clear out a small number of white asbestos fibres over time.  The low concentration of asbestos means that the number of fibres released will be quite low if you cut or drill it, with many fibres remaining trapped in the other 98% of material that fell to the floor and got swept up. 

You asked about the risk to your family.  Perhaps not surprisingly, there are no figures for the number of people who have died due to exposure to asbestos in decorative products.  However in 2016 there were 2,197 male deaths and 398 female deaths from mesothelioma. I hate to use gender stereotyping, but I suspect that few of those women were exposed at work, which means they must have been exposed to asbestos elsewhere. In the home, perhaps?  Now 398 sounds a lot, but to put it in context, 3500 people die in the home each year from simple accidents; 1800 die each year in road accidents; 1500 die from accidental poisoning; 1500 die each year from falling in the home; 5-10 die each year putting on their socks.  

So, although you're kicking yourself that you disturbed the material, you have done what most other householders (including me!) have done at some time - disturbed the Artex in the ceiling and possibly breathed in the fibres. But the extra risk to your family appears to be minimal and definitely nothing to panic about. It most certainly isn't a death warrant that will be hanging over everyone's head for years to come. You're getting expert advice on what to do next, but maybe sealing the damaged areas and being more asbestos aware is all that you'll need to do. Almost certainly removing the Artex would be more dangerous than leaving it in place and keeping it properly sealed. 

I'll also add one further point. Smoking and asbestos are a lethal combination. If you or any of your family are smokers, then now might be a good time to quit. 

So I guess the take home message is Don't Panic. 

Thank you for this. Really appreciate you replying. I do feel reassured now! 

Hi - happy to help if I can but please bear in mind I'm no expert - I only know what I know from speaking to a couple of experts.  A couple of weeks ago I knew nothing about all this stuff!

Hi.

I have posted on another section and then came across this discussion.

I am having a bit of a panic.

My grandparents had a leak from their water tank through the sitting room ceiling about 20 years ago. They left the damaged corner and never bothered getting it repaired. Turns out the ceiling has asbestos in it and their was asbestos insulation up around the tank.

I'm now having a complete panic attack as I have been going to see them for a couple of hours every weekend and taking my kids.

My eldest is 8 and I have a 4 year old and 2 year old. I am making myself feel sick thinking they have spent 2 hours a week for years in a room with damaged asbestos.

I don't want to take them until everything is fixed as now I know about it I don't want them near it. My husband thinks I'm over reacting and because it's been like that for 20 years and any fibres that were going to come off would have done so long ago.

Should I talk to a doctor about my worries for my kids? Am I completely over reacting?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. 

Hi

I have just come across this post having had quite a lot of anxiety around asbestos. We have recently been told that we have artex tiles on our extension (our house is Victorian not sure about the extension ) we have lived in the house for a few years. We are looking to get these replaced. However it has set off anxiety about artex as we have artex on 3 of our ceilings, and last year we drilled a hole into what I thought was textured paper in a cupboard but it's not having looked again.

Having read through this chat can I say this has eased my mind a bit and is it best to just fill the holes in, paint and move in from stressing about it given what you have said in your previous post about the risk being low?

thanks

Hi

I have just come across this post having had quite a lot of anxiety around asbestos. We have recently been told that we have artex tiles on our extension (our house is Victorian not sure about the extension ) we have lived in the house for a few years. We are looking to get these replaced. However it has set off anxiety about artex as we have artex on 3 of our ceilings, and last year we drilled a hole into what I thought was textured paper in a cupboard but it's not having looked again.

Having read through this chat can I say this has eased my mind a bit and is it best to just fill the holes in, paint and move in from stressing about it given what you have said in your previous post about the risk being low?

would you be able to pass the information on that you received?

thanks

@Jak99 - Thanks for posting the in-depth information you gathered on artex/asbestos. I'm sure a lot of people find themselves worried about this exact scenario and your post will go a long way to easing their anxiety - it definitely did for me.

I can't really buy you a drink to say thanks, so I've made a donation on your behalf to Cancer Research instead.

Many thanks
Aaron

Hi Aaron

Really pleased to hear the info we found out is helping other people as well as us.

That's a really kind gesture to make a donation to Cancer Research - great idea!

Many thanks and all the best.

Jack

On behalf of the Cancer Chat team, I just wanted to say Aaron that we are very touched by your kind donation. What a lovely touch and I am so glad that Jak99 was able to help you and support you on this forum. 

Thank you so much for your support. We really appreciate it. 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Jak99, 

That is very useful, real-world information, thanks for that. Are you able to quote your sources for three sources, please? If so, that would be really great, thanks. It might also generate some referrals and kudos for the experts who've provided such good advice. Many thanks!

Kind regards,

David

I'd love to see the details you were able to get re asbestos Jak99, could you forward them on to me?  Many thanks

Hi I'm new to this and was wondering as I've just disturbed my ceiling in our dining room and found it is artex but not got it tested and worried that it may have asbestos within it. It's white completely. My plasterer has asked me to take the ceiling down as it's too damaged to be replaced so I'd have to put a new ceiling up. What is the chances of doing this and not inhaling etc. I would use a mask etc. My anxiety has been flying about it and have an infant and partner that I'd be worried about when going to start the job. I'd seal the doors so that nothing could spread through the house 
 

regards 

jameziow

Hi I'm new to this and was wondering as I've just disturbed my ceiling in our dining room and found it is artex but not got it tested and worried that it may have asbestos within it. It's white completely. My plasterer has asked me to take the ceiling down as it's too damaged to be replaced so I'd have to put a new ceiling up. What is the chances of doing this and not inhaling etc. I would use a mask etc. My anxiety has been flying about it and have an infant and partner that I'd be worried about when going to start the job. I'd seal the doors so that nothing could spread through the house 
 

regards 

jameziow