Asbestos has been causing Kiwis a great deal of frustration for decades, and many people have found themselves in the scary position of wondering what happens next after asbestos exposure.

You might have been unfamiliar with what asbestos was and believe you were exposed, or you may have undertaken house renovations or repairs without knowing your home contained this hazardous building material.

In either case, you might have a lot of ‘what happens’ questions about asbestos. We’ll do our best to answer some of the more frequently asked questions, but you can also get in touch if you would like to know more.

What Happens If You Are Exposed to Asbestos?

What happens if you are exposed to asbestos can depend on your level of exposure, the length of time you were exposed, and, sometimes, just your level of luck. There is no such thing as a safe exposure level, but there’s also no telling how much asbestos you can be exposed to before you can be at risk of related health conditions.

However, what the research tells us so far is that short-term exposure rarely leads to disease – but can. We also know that asbestos exposure can be cumulative, which means several short-term exposure events can increase your risk of developing severe health conditions relating to asbestos, like cancer and asbestosis.

But once again, there is no magic number. A single event may lead to mesothelioma in your future, but half a dozen may not. The best thing to do is take every possible measure to avoid being exposed in the first place.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos through paid work or elsewhere, you may like to register with the Asbestos Exposure Register (AER). This private register is used for research purposes to understand exposure in New Zealand better.

What Happens If You Touch Asbestos?

Many people wonder what happens if you touch asbestos, almost like you can immediately become ill through touch alone. Asbestos is a natural mineral that has been mined and manufactured into other products like roofing materials, vinyl, insulation, and even children’s toys. As a result, you rarely touch the natural material itself.

When you touch an asbestos product, you’re generally safe unless that product or material has been broken, damaged, or disturbed in some way. For example, you’re perfectly safe to walk across asbestos vinyl in good condition, but it becomes a safety hazard when that flooring becomes worn, or you start lifting it to replace it.

What Happens If You Breathe In Asbestos Or Inhale Asbestos?

You might be wondering what happens if you breathe in or inhale asbestos. Will you become sick? What happens in your body? When you breathe in airborne asbestos fibres, they can settle in your lungs and cause inflammation. Over time, that inflammation can turn into cancer, with some of the most common types being lung cancer and mesothelioma – cancer of the lung lining.

Not everyone who breathes in asbestos fibres will get sick, but it’s worth being aware of how important it is to wear appropriate PPE when handling asbestos to reduce the risk of it happening.

What Happens If Asbestos Is Found In Your Home?

What happens if asbestos is found in your home can depend on its condition, what you’re doing with it, and what your plans are next. Many variables can determine the outcome.

For example, if you decided to complete home renovations and discovered that some of the materials you’re removing contain asbestos, you may need to contact an asbestos removal expert. They have the necessary equipment and skills to remove it and dispose of it safely.

If you’ve discovered asbestos materials in your home and they’re damaged, but you’re not planning on renovating, contacting an asbestos removalist can be a suitable option in this instance, as well. They can advise on whether encapsulation is an appropriate option or whether removal will be necessary for your family’s safety.

What Happens If Asbestos Is Disturbed?

If asbestos is disturbed, contacting an asbestos removalist is the most sensible action for you to take. Depending on where the asbestos was disturbed, they may be able to isolate and encapsulate the area or remove the entire asbestos material.

However, there can be different recommendations for each part of your home. For example, if you have a few damaged asbestos tiles on your roof, your chosen asbestos removalist may recommend removing those tiles, replacing them with non-asbestos roofing materials, and painting all tiles with suitable paint to seal them in and protect them from wear and tear.  

However, if your kitchen vinyl has pulled away and exposed the asbestos-contaminated backing, they may recommend complete removal and new flooring.  

What Happens Now?

What happens now is up to you. If you have asbestos-related questions or an issue with asbestos in your home or business, now might be the right time to contact an experienced team. They can help you decide what the best course of action for your unique situation might be.