Asbestos risk of loose insulation in loft.

E

elsmandino

Joined
23 Jan 2012
Messages
164
Reaction score
5
Location
Essex
Country
United Kingdom
Hi there.

A couple of years ago, I decided to bag up all the loose insulation that lay between the rafters in my loft.

I then replaced it with rolls of insulation.

It was dusty as anything and I used a regular paper face mask.

I recently read that some of this stuff can contain asbestos and am now bricking it.

I am going to send some samples off to an asbestos company but I was wondering whether anyone has come across any of this loose-fill insulation before and what they ended up doing.
 
Sponsored Links
It's unlikely to be asbestos and I can't imagine an domestic environment where a professional might use it as loft insulation. If it makes you feel better, get it tested

It's more likely choped rockwool
 
Thanks for that - unfortunately, it looks like the stuff (looking at google photos) is called vermiculite.

It was, apparently, only a single mine in the US (Libby) that provided contaminated batches.

Question, now, is whether my house was unlucky enough to have obtained it from there.
 
Sponsored Links
I used to think nothing of servicing car and motorcycle brakes years ago, blowing dust everywhere..

Too late to mull over it now.

Apparently smoking increases the risk 5 fold (or more) so if you don't smoke you have an advantage already!.
 
Saying all that I wonder if Kevlar will be found to be nearly as bad as asbestos, hopefully not!.
 
Keithmac said:
Saying all that I wonder if Kevlar will be found to be nearly as bad as asbestos, hopefully not!.
Click to expand...
The biggest study I could find was on rats, and the only cancer they discovered was one that has never been seen outside of a lab, so not that big of a risk
 
Thomasthepiperson said:
Never come across loft insulation that was asbestos, it’s usually fibreglass or rock wool or in some cases verclumite.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it is the vermiculite that could contain asbestos.

I have sent a sample off for testing and now have a bit of an anxious wait whilst I await the results.

In the meantime, I made the stupid mistake of googling everything I could find about asbestos exposure (in the hope of finding some definitive evidence that non of the vermiculite, sold over here, was that from the Libby mine). There is relatively little on the subject (as far as the UK goes), but if I were in the US or Canada, it would be a very different story.

I am also trying to keep some perspective - visiting asbestos law websites is not a good idea as they only focus on those who already have the disease (and not the vast majority, who have not).

Taking a common-sense approach seems to be along the lines that of all those that worked in clouds of all types of asbestos for years at a time, only a small percentage actually went on to develop anything nasty.

I might have had some heavy exposure (of the nastier kind of asbestos) but it would only have primarily occurred for a few days and then from any minor disturbances, each time I went into the loft for a rummage.

Seems to me that with non-occupational exposure like this, I would be unlucky if it went on to anything sinister.

I suppose it is a bit like smoking - I was never a smoker but would happily sit in pubs, breathing in a whole room of smoke. I suppose I am lucky enough to have had the smoking ban brought in when I was in my late 20s.
 
Chance of asbestosis is keenly linked to exposure, ie the more you are exposed, the greater the chance of you getting it.

However, even though it's extremely unlikely, a single exposure could cause it. But it is extremely unlikely.

Contractors will use the space suits, positive Air pressure etc, as they are exposed day in day out, so need to be protected. The chance of you having any I'll effects from such a small exposure is very slight.
 
mikeey84 said:
Chance of asbestosis is keenly linked to exposure, ie the more you are exposed, the greater the chance of you getting it.

However, even though it's extremely unlikely, a single exposure could cause it. But it is extremely unlikely.

Contractors will use the space suits, positive Air pressure etc, as they are exposed day in day out, so need to be protected. The chance of you having any I'll effects from such a small exposure is very slight.
Click to expand...

Thanks, mate - appreciate that.

It sounds really childish but sometimes you just need reassure that the risk is literally not worth bothering with.

I grew up in the 80s, when H&S started to be taken a bit more seriously in this country and it is hard to shift, from my mindset, the constant warnings of asbestos equalling death.

Not quite the same, I know, but it was a bit like that advert for AIDS (with John Hurt and the falling tombstones). Scared the living cr*p out of me.

Thomasthepiperson - can I just ask a bit more about your vermiculite use? What sort of time-frame was this and were you ever told about the Libby contamination issue?
 
D

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Sponsored Links

Similar threads

B
Any risk of asbestos in this loft insulation?
Replies
3
Views
1K
^woody^
^woody^
P
Is this asbestos in my loft - Victorian house, London?
Replies
9
Views
2K
woodpeckerx
W
I
Asbestos risk scale
Replies
5
Views
1K
jeds
J
Moonhead
Asbestos risk in loft
Replies
4
Views
1K
Moonhead
Moonhead
O
Could this be loose fill asbestos in a cavity wall?
Replies
5
Views
5K
^woody^
^woody^
Back
Top