There is nothing funny about asbestos though people like to make jokes about the government’s elaborate rules and regulations regarding its detection and removal.  The sight of professional agents dressed in full body suits with helmets makes you think of nuclear waste or alien microbe attacks.  But asbestos really is dangerous when inhaled so extra precautions are necessary in order to remove it safely. 

Asbestos was used in insulation and a number of other products between the 1940s and the 1970s.   Asbestos is made of tiny crystals that can get be inhaled and get lodged in the lungs.  Over time the crystals can cause lung disease.   Once asbestos was identified as an unsafe product, its use was banned.  Unfortunately there are still plenty of structures that contain asbestos including homes built in the 1970s or earlier. 

Asbestos containing products include insulation, vinyl floor tiles and siding to name a few.  Asbestos is not dangerous until it’s disturbed enough to release the tiny crystals into the air.  When you buy an older home and remodel it, it is not unusual to come across asbestos insulation including pipe wraps.  In many areas of the country, only professionals are allowed to remove asbestos.  Contractors have the right equipment to protect themselves. 

Because asbestos is not dangerous unless released into the air, you should leave any asbestos containing products alone. Asbestos can crumble and become a powder which means you should not go anywhere near it if at all possible.  Asbestos may be in insulation and floor tiles as mentioned earlier. But it is also in fireproofing and acoustical materials.   

There are contractors who have been certified as asbestos removers.  They understand the precautions which must be taken in order to insure there is no exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.  You should never try to remove it yourself when you even suspect asbestos might be present. The exposure to asbestos must be prolonged in order to lead to health conditions such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, but there is no reason to take any chances with your health.   

If you live in a house built in the 1970s or earlier, the chances are there is asbestos somewhere in the home. But until you remodel or disturb original installations of typical asbestos containing materials, there is no need to worry.  Just use your common sense and rely on professionals when the time comes.  

References:

1.  http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/