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! 

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

Hello Jak,

Found your posts very, very helpful and very grateful for your effot behind getting these answers.

Is there the possibility to message you privately to get your opinon on some recent work I've had done on Artex.

Kind Regards,

[@Jak99]‍ May I have the information from the specialist please? I too have also been in a similar situation.

Many thanks ️

Hi hope you don't mind but I've sent you a friend request so I can ask you a question 

Hi. I have been driving myself crazy over recent exposure to asbestos from stupidly sanding part of our bedroom ceiling. Could I contact you for further info? 

Hi. Please feel free to contact me, but I honestly don't know any more than I've posted already.  I was in exactly the same position as everyone else on this thread (which is how I came across it) so found some experts to speak to to reassure myself and my wife.

I then decided to share what I'd learnt on here to help other people.

However, if there is any other way I can help I'd be happy to!

Hi.  I have already posted all the info I got from the specialists, but if there's any other way I can help I am happy to.

I have been around someone on a night out and in close contact all night and he works in asbestos , I'm paranoid cos I went in his work van the day after and used his phone that I'm going to get these diseases and now anything o touch that I touched that night will release asbestos fibres and read them exact things on Google too , I'm so scared now 

Hi I'm so anxious and getting myself into a state. I have lived in a house for almost 10 years with artex (popcorn) ceilings, along the edge of some of the ceilings over the years there was some settlement cracks which I filled in and forgot about I now have some paint slightly coming loose above a doorframe/ceiling its only when I googled that it came up as the ceilings may contain asbestos as it was built in the 70's they is also a tiny hole in one of the ceilings where a light fixture was changed before I moved in. I'm now imagining the worst and thinking me and my children's health may be affected because of this. I understand from reading your posts that there is only a small amount of asbestos found in ceilings. I think I'm just looking for some reassurance because Google has made me worry so much with their terrifying stories! 

Hi I'm so anxious and getting myself into a state. I have lived in a house for almost 10 years with artex (popcorn) ceilings, along the edge of some of the ceilings over the years there was some settlement cracks which I filled in and forgot about I now have some paint slightly coming loose above a doorframe/ceiling its only when I googled that it came up as the ceilings may contain asbestos as it was built in the 70's they is also a tiny hole in one of the ceilings where a light fixture was changed before I moved in. I'm now imagining the worst and thinking me and my children's health may be affected because of this. I understand from reading your posts that there is only a small amount of asbestos found in ceilings. I think I'm just looking for some reassurance because Google has made me worry so much with their terrifying stories! 

Sorry also forgot to mention there was a leak in my boiler cupboard ceiling from a problem with the roof so water had come through and dampened the ceiling obviously. The roof was repaired and the ceiling dried out would this also be releasing asbestos fibres? The ceiling hasnt sagged or crumbled just has left a horrible brown water mark. Like I mentioned this inside a cupboard so the door is closed most of the time. I've got myself into such a state about all of this and worried sick about what damage this could've done to mine and my 2 children's health and like I mentioned previously googling it has terrified me but this page seems more reassuring and people seem more knowledgable.