I'm freaking myself out

annieu613

I'm convincing myself that the insulation in our attic is asbestos, and I know I've breathed it in.  I'm totally going to die of lung cancer, right? 

Pseudonim

We lived in a house that still had insulation on the pipes and I was mega paranoid about it. Until my neighbor tested the insulation and it turns out that it was just fiberglass. Apparently fiberglass and asbestos wrap look identical. Who knew? Not me.

Temp669138375003701

OMG my building at the community college is under construction.  I walked through a cloud of asbestos yesterday. Awesome.  Let's go sit in an iron lung and drink?

annieu613

I think I need to get it tested.  I am seriously on the verge of crying right now.  This is not normal.

We do have asbestos shingles, which we're fine with because they're ok unless they break, but I had to root through the insulation in the attic to change a j-box, and I definitely inhaled the dust and had a major coughing fit.  I'm gonna get cancer

annieu613

lp521:

OMG my building at the community college is under construction.  I walked through a cloud of asbestos yesterday. Awesome.  Let's go sit in an iron lung and drink?

This might help.

Pseudonim

Nah, a one time exposure you'll be good. See what the EPA says here

Asbestos Shiit

cvillebetrothed

i wouldn't worry about it.

asbestos is breathable/transportable if it's friable (i.e., if it can escape from the confines of whatever it's bound up in).  if the insulation is intact, you're fine.  if you ever have to have do anything about it, there are tons of people trained in handling it appropriately and you wouldn't even be in the house while it's being addressed.

signed,

person with asbestos siding on part of her house who is totally unworried about it

annieu613

Pseudonim:

Nah, a one time exposure you'll be good. See what the EPA says here

Asbestos Shiit

ok, that's helpful.

I know I'm being insane, but it's really freaking me out.

Quesera

I think the exposure needs to be prolonged. 

Did you have an inspection on your house?ma few years ago some friends found asbestos in their attic and I freaked out, convinced we were all going to die. I hunted down our inspection and it didn't list it, thank god, but I also found out that your realtor is required to disclose that info. Not sure if it's the same there but worth looking into.  

Marle

Annie you'll be ok. Have it tested so you can have peace of mind.  But usually the people who get emphysema or lung cancer from asbestos are people who are exposed to it every day. 

PeachyKate

You'll be ok!

I had a freak out like this once over tiles that we removed in our house when we moved in 7 years ago.   I didn't even think about it and then when it was done DH said oh, I wonder if those tiles contained absestos.  

I asked the doctor because I am a spaz and he said it's fine.  Most(basically all from what he said and what I have read) people who get sick have prolonged exposure due to their working conditions.  

We never did get the tiles tested and it was not on our inspection that they were in fact asbestos so I never found out for sure.  

annieu613

It was not in the inspection, but he missed some other things so I'm not convinced of his competence.