A reader alerted me to the fact that this week is Asbestos Awareness Week.
I haven’t written much about asbestos because I thought it was banned. In fact, on 12 July 1989, the EPA issued a final regulation banning most uses of asbestos, but not all. But the asbestos industry filed a lawsuit against the EPA and overturned the ban. Read more about the ban and current restrictions
Then Mesothelioma + Asbestos Awareness Center wants to see a future where a highly preventable cancer is virtually non-existent because people are more aware as to where the hazardous material can be found in their homes and occupations. They also provide information for those who are interested in learning more about the cancer as they themselves are experiencing it, or are students learning about other lung diseases as they enter health and medical fields.
While asbestos is not as widely used today as it was in the past, it is still found in some consumer products. Shannon also sent me an article about five products that still contain asbestos: car parts, insulation, construction materials, fireproof clothing, and potting soils. Potting soils? It’s the vermiculite in potting soils that may be contaminated with asbestos, as they occur in nature together.
Other domestic products that may contain asbestos include:
- Crock pot linings and around the power cord: especially those manufactured prior to 1980
- Ironing board covers either made with asbestos cloth or had asbestos fibers weaved into the material: those commonly sold around the 1960
- Hair dryer heating elements: those produced prior to 1979, though there is a possibility of foreign-made hair dryers still containing some amount of asbestos
And if you are looking for or living in an older home to avoid outgassing of VOCs from modern building materials, those older homes are the most likely to contain asbestos. Within those homes asbestos can be found in roofing tiles, vinyl flooring (installed prior to 1980), popcorn ceiling, piping, and wall boards.
Here’s another post on this blog about asbestos: Q&A: My Personal Experience with “Second -Hand” Asbestos.
When you say asbestos can still be found in older homes in popcorn ceilings and wall board – how old a home do you mean? My condo was built in 1986. Is that considered an older home – I hope not! I cannot take down all the walls and the popcorn ceilings – what a mess. I had a leak in 1997 and had to have the popcorn ceiling taken off in one room and I really cannot face that horrid mess again – especially throughout an entire apartment. Thank you.
You’re fine. Asbestos was banned for use in popcorn ceilings in 1977.