I should also add that I live in an apartment building.. not a house

I would say you are going overboard too. Why on earth would you throw out washable items. Stop and calm down. Specialists are saying that you are negative for asbestos, so obviously what they tested was negative. We all are exposed to asbestos some times in our life, and a lot of the time, we dont even know it. Years ago, I used asbestos shingles for plates in my play house, when one would break off our house. There was always dust from them. Well, I am 80 yrs old, and I have absolutely no health problems yet, although I suspect, eventually I will, but, they will be more from old age, than all the asbestos I was exposed to as a child.

I agree with the above comments. IF you have actually been exposed, it will be minor, and falls into the range of incidental which we all experience. Asbestos occurs in the environment, and that could be the source (ie dust infiltrating from outdoors) of the one positive out of many negative tests, as well as the building itself (apart from the neighbor's work) if it is an older one.

"My father thinks that is ridiculous."

Your father is correct.

"Am I going overboard?"

Yes.

Keep in mind that the risk of disease increases with the amount and duration of exposure. And the 'acceptable' levels are so very low that exceeding them doesn't mean you're GOING to get sick, only that the air exceeded a somewhat arbitrary and very low risk level. Very low.

>>To me, the mere presence of asbestos in settled dust means that I should have a full-scale abatement

Since your air samples all came back clean, but floor dust had detectable asbestos, it is entirely possible there was a bit of asbestos somewhere, and some particles settled that are not particularly prone to being airborne (possibly too big). You breathe air, not [floor] dust, so you can worry less about that. There is no way to predict air levels even from %asbestos particles in a wipe sample - the only way is to test air. Your air was clean every time it was tested. Which included wearing your clothes, flopping on the couch, walking on the carpet.

As for all your stuff, no, I would not throw it out. Clothing and even upholsery can be cleaned. If your place was HEPA vacuumed there should not really be much to clean.

The TEM test is more accurate/sensitive than PLM so that may be why the only postive test was the TEM test.

I wouldn't get too worked up over this. Wet clean your carpet and upholstery, and if dust got as far as the closet, wash clothes. It will be OK.

[Edit: Certified asbestos inspector here.]

You are going overboard. I say this as someone who worked in the field of asbestos regulation, removal, and remediation for over 20 years. Aside from the fact that your exposure, if any, was not significant to your long-term health, you have to appreciate that your goal of having an asbestos free living space is impossible. Asbestos comes from many sources and floats around in our environment: it's called the background level and you can actually measure it by collecting air samples in urban as well as rural environments. Even though your neighbor was irresponsible, he may not even have disturbed any asbestos-containing materials, or disturbed them enough to make them airborne at any significant level. If there were any asbestos fibers that somehow wafted your way and came inside, they have long disappeared by air changes in your apartment. You are approaching this as if your house has become a Superfund site due to the irresponsible actions of your neighbor, and that's simply not so. Further testing, even if it provides quantitative results that show the presence of asbestos fibers is unlikely to be useful because there are no written guidelines that specify safe and unsafe levels of asbestos. I just see further testing as causing more concern without providing any benefit. Accept that the early tests that were more likely to pick up asbestos fiber levels above background level were negative.

I applaud you for being environmentally aware and sensibly wanting to limit your exposure to toxic materials. However, you have just enough knowledge about asbestos to scare yourself, but lack the risk assessment background to realize that the drastic measures you are contemplating are unwarranted and unnecessary. The biggest danger at this point is the stress you are under from continuing to hash this over in your mind. It's time to move on for your own physical and mental health. Like me, some day, something will kill you...but it won't be asbestos related to this situation.

Yes, you are going overboard. Actually, from what you have described, it sounds like you already went over the edge but now you’re grasping on to whatever is left and taking everything else with you. This is a case where you’re using a bazooka to swat down a fly, and now you’re contemplating a scorched earth policy which will do nothing to help and will just create more problems. Take some deep breaths and the excellent advice already given, pull yourself back onto the ledge, and for the sake of your health and sanity - let this go.

As a cancer survivor myself, I understand how we get hyper aware of things that may affect our future health. However, I do think you are going overboard, especially as you are seeking legal recourse as well. It sounds as if your apartment is safe, as are your furnishings and clothing. A deep cleaning may put your mind at rest.

just an anecdote: I oversaw a project at my parents’ house involved removing some asbestos in a small area. There was no heat so I provided the men with some space heaters, and pointed out some old space heaters but, I warned them, “they are old and kind of scary.” They replied, “We work with asbestos. Nothing scares us.”

That humorous faux-bravado aside, I was very impressed with their safety processes throughout the project: Preparation, work, cleanup, serious attitude, communication. Their licensing is strict. An independent tester had to come out before they left. There was no permitting involved, but they do have got do this as part of their license.

^^ That's one of the great things about those regulations: the person doing air testing after the work to confirm it is clean, cannot be from the same company who did the work. Independent verification. A bit off topic but I thought it was worth sharing.

I have no expertise as to whether or not you are going overboard, however, I did want to mention that it is not recommended to try and wash asbestos out of fabric as several have advised above.

From the Meseothemioma Center Website:

Regular washing machines are not designed to clean asbestos-contaminated clothing. Trying to wash contaminated clothing will cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. It will also contaminate any other clothes that are put into the washer.You cannot easily wash asbestos out of clothes. Trying to do so can expose you to asbestos.

You should properly dispose of any clothing that is exposed to asbestos. Contaminated clothing must be put in a watertight bag or container. The bag or container must be labeled as asbestos waste. Then it must be taken to a landfill that is equipped to dispose of asbestos waste.

daisychain-

True.. but I think that's irrelevant to this situation.

OMG yes you are going so far overboard. There is asbestos in the air at background levels in every city in the country. It was used so extensively for so many years you cannot completely avoid exposure. We all have a few fibers in our lungs and most of us will be just fine. (Decade plus former asbestos lawyer here...)

"Contaminated clothing" in the sense that it is mentioned in the quote above suggests heavily contaminated, such as regular clothing worn while removing asbestos (either on purpose or without awareness of the presence of asbestos). I agree it may have so many fibers stuck in the fabric that it can't be made clean.

Clothing in a closet inside a bedroom in a residence next door to someone releasing dust (which may or may not have contained asbestos), is not likely to even have visible dust on it, much less heavy contamination. Especially when, let's remember, the air tested clean. Of course the real risk is from invisible sized fibers, but still, it all depends on whether dust reached whatever material is being considered, and if so, how much. Only the OP can evaluate that.

This is just my opinion based on a typical home, but I don't know the layout of rooms, where windows are located, whether they were open, etc. so I can't say for sure what the level of contamination would have been. I'm just giving general information.

I hate to see this situation being discussed in "decontamination" terms when nothing in the scenario would even suggest that. The OP's original post of possible actions was way overboard, and now we're somehow into a general, speculative discussion about improbable things. When someone posts that they have no expertise in a matter of health risk, and then proceeds to quote decontamination instructions, it's just not constructive.

The op hasnt been back on here, so guessing she or he, didnt like what they were told anyway. I also agree, with Kudzu. There is no point in discussing what happens if there really is contamination, since in the ops case, the tests were negative for asbestos, so most of it was just because of someone being in a panic and apparently didnt even want to believe two acredited companies test.

This is the challenge when talking to non-technical people about contamination and toxic risk. Most people are non-technical as far as that field goes, and it's not meant as an insult. That said, there tends to be a lot of emotion and worry involved in this stuff, combined with a general lack of trust of authority, both in industry and government, these days. It's understandable. People worry about things they can't see that they know can harm them. They know they are bad and don't know much else, so it is quite easy to worry. Unfortunately the technical community can't always give a cut and dried answer. There is no such thing as 'zero' risk, for example. Procedures and regulations are designed to make it so low as to disappear in the noise of all the other risks in life. It's a difficult concept to get across.

I hope the OP, whatever they decided to do (or not do), can at least rest easy after making some informed decisions. Stress isn't good for your health either, that's a fact.

Hi guys..for some reason, my phone never alerted me to your responses....Thank you so much for all your mostly :-) helpful and kind replies. But I feel the need to explain more of the situation, especially to the person who so tactfully said I have gone "over the edge".

It was only through talking to an abatement company that I learned that soft fabric furniture and rugs need to be thrown out. And it was only speaking through a certified industrial hygienist that I learned that ANY asbestos in your living space should be remediated ( that's his opinion I guess - could he be just trying to make money off referrals? I really don't know.)

According to OSHA... "There is no "safe" level of asbestos exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans."

Yes, I know it is probably more a warning workers... but still..

Somebody else I spoke to said you only need an abatement if the amount of asbestos is over 1%. I really don't know that result yet. However, I asked the lab manager (when I learned of the positive result) if his apartment could have traces of asbestos, he said no, and that if he were me , he would consult an attorney. And he had nothing to gain there. I'm not talking about litigating for large damages or the thousands I spent on hotels because of this. I'm talking about not being responsible for a remediation if I need one. And I think that's more than fair. My concern is that I will never know the exposure level I may have had and how much dust could have settled all over everything. As I wrote, the fibers in the dust must be really small since it only tested positive through TEM. When my air was tested during the construction, it was tested by a quack who , according to the EPA, had no idea what he was doing. He ran the test for 15 minutes at a flow rate of 45 when the NIOSH7400 test is supposed to be run for over 60 Minutes at a flow rate of 10 to 12!!!

Don't get me wrong...I feel very thankful that the recent TEM air test was negative. However, this air test was run 4 months after the construction was completed and during that time, and after, I'd had multiple intense cleanings with HEPA air scrubbers, in light of the silica and wood dust in my apt. Silica is considered almost as harmful as asbestos. Again, I'm not working in a mine full of silica clouds either, but as somebody who has had cancer, I try to avoid as many carcinogens as possible. Especially in my apartment where I have a warranty of habitability and am supposed to be safe.

If I had been smart and put my own health above playing nice, I would have called the city during construction and the job would have been shut down immediately (no permit) and the city would have tested my air for free. Any building that went up before the mid70s or 80s usually requires asbestos clearances before an extensive renovation work can begin and my city takes that very seriously.. If the city takes this seriously, why shouldn't I? More importantly, why shouldn't my neighbor and her contractor?

It's very obvious that the dust was coming from the work since I would come home after their work and find my bathroom polluted by construction dust. The attached pic of my TV was taken one week after my cleaning lady cleaned for about 7 hours. This was about a month or two after the construction. Before the construction, that amount of dust probably would have taken about three years to form LOL

Now, I understand that there is background asbestos. But this is not like taking a Subway for 25 minutes a day where there may be asbestos in the air. This is your home where you spend most of your time sleeping, eating, etc. If this were a situation of an electrician breaking off some asbestos insulation out of a wall or or a contractor accidentally pulling up a few asbestos tiles, I would not be concerned. I'd put on a mask, clean it up and move on.

The fact is my entire apartment was polluted for six months because of the construction (with silica, wood dust Etc) and an expert concluded that it probably came through my HVAC system since my neighbor and I share the same air handler and there are holes in my pipes that were discovered after the construction..after months of Dust that would not go away. Oh, it's also due to the fact that the construction company took ZERO dust control measures.

Yes, I agree that I am overly fixated on rectifying this. When you've had cancer, and you have taken great steps to reduce your recurrence risk, to be subjected to unwelcomed carcinogens due to NEGLIGENCE is upsetting. I understand that we can't control everything in life and construction happens.. my attitude is: make as much darn noise as you want - just don't freely pollute my environment - and certainly don't be a negligent jerk and subject me to asbestos.

Do I have some sort of pie-in-the-sky set of ethical standards? I don't think so. I think it's just basic human decency. :-)

here's the snowy tv.. and to those of you who were supportive and told me they didn't think there was cause for worry, thank you
.. I'm not too nervous but there's always going to be a background fear now..I'm not an "uppity" person but I am pretty conscious about staying healthy and as toxin free as I can...

nothing · More Info

The problem with all the asbestos talk is the word "exposure." It's not like the flu, where you can catch it from being exposed once to the virus. Real harm from asbestos requires repeated exposure over years.

Some "remediation" companies will say that one asbestos fiber is a hazard because that's how they make money. Others are more scrupulous.

I'll say it again: you're not in any danger. But if your objective is to go after your neighbor for this, I'm sure you can find lots of asbestos remediation "experts" who will testify in your behalf, as long as you pay them a decent cut of the proceeds.

That's all I have to say in this thread.

ouqt84-

You're still laboring under a lot of misinformation, and cherry picking odds and ends from a lot of different sources that don't all seem to have unbiased and reliable credentials:

1. The NIOSH 7400 test can be run at a lot of different flow rates. What matters is the volume collected. The two different sets of parameters you describe are essentially equivalent in terms of volume processed. So your conclusion that the tester was a "quack" is invalid.

2. Your assumption that you are only exposed to background asbestos when you are outside your house is totally wrong. Every home environment has many air changes per hour, meaning that the air inside is swapped with the outside air frequently. There is nothing inherently cleaner about the air in your house than the air outside.

3. You are still assuming the neighbor generated asbestos fibers and they got into your air space, when I have yet to see that you have established this. Further, even if asbestos fibers from this renovation were emitted and got into your environment, ti doesn't mean there is any permanent or continuing contamination, since much of this would have been airborne and would have wafted out due to hourly air changes.

4. It's true that there is no safe level of asbestos fibers, but that's entirely different from saying that any exposure will give you cancer. We are all exposed to asbestos fibers every day, and if they were as toxic as you think they are at low levels, we'd all be dead.

5. The fact that you have had cancer does not make you more susceptible to health risks from cancer caused by asbestos.

6. You say that you are overly fixated on rectifying this situation. I will go further and say that it may be impossible since there may well be nothing to rectify.

7. Finally, even if you had any incidental exposure to asbestos, the likelihood that there is anything remaining that is measurable above what you would expect from background levels already in the environment is negligible, continuing exposure is unlikely, and there is nothing you can do about any exposure you have had...except continue to worry about something you have no control over.

I will repeat what I have said previously: you know enough to worry yourself, but you don;t have the necessary risk assessment background to allow yourself to move on from this. You can't put time back in the clock to go back and accurately analyze what, if anything, happened during the renovation. If you want to be rational about this situation, you have to accept that nothing you do now is going to resolve this, and move on. Or you can choose not to, but it won't give you a concrete result or a happy resolution. Your choice....

kudzu9:

Excellent post.

to clarify.. I'm not looking to take legal action against anybody.. I only considered making an insurance claim that would possibly result in my insurance company taking action against multiple parties. It's unlikely that my policy covers pollution anyway, and it's hard to prove that the asbestos came from my neighbor since their work is long over. I don't mean to sound like I'm on a moral high horse.. but when you spent months fighting about irresponsible construction (there's other damage besides dust) and then you learn about asbestos, you just feel defeated...and cheated..Ijust took a horrible fall at an Airbnb.. I would never even think of jokingly making a claim because spraining my toe and possibly causing further injury to my already screwed up spine is something I can easily live with.. Asbestos, with all its regulations, just makes me nervous. Am I misinformed? Maybe.. but I've spoke to a lot of third party experts and have come to no definitive conclusions. Some say a little bit in home is fine and some say it's not fine. and to the guy, like my air tester, who said that you can use any flow rate for the niosh test as long as you have the correct overall volume.. I asked the EPA over and over and they said that that is simply not true. then I looked at the current niosh documentation which stated that the maximum flow rate for the method is 16 L per minute (EPA said it was 15). I don't want to knock the guy who took the test but, in hindsight, he was just not qualified.. he is popular home inspector but not hygienist..He couldn't speak intelligently about the test method or results, he didn't have a license (although I'm not sure you need one for initial air testing - just abatement work) and he did a couple of things that were a bit shady.. oh and when he did a dust sample and a lead wipe, he didn't use gloves and he just shoved the samples in his pocket-no baggie. I should have known that that he was careless. anyway, I don't want to keep asking for comments from the same posters since the majority here have made it clear where you stand ..I appreciate the help. I guess I have to determine what I can live with in my own home and what I can't. . If I just shrug it off, I'll probably still be stuck..everytime I clean, thinking: I'm cleaning the dust, it's kicking up, and there's asbestos in it. That's not something that's going to give me that "there's no place like home" feeling..

BTW, Kudzu, you made the statement that just having cancer in the past does not make you more susceptible to mesothelioma. Or something like that. Can you actually CITE a scientific study to back up your statement? or are you making that statement because you just haven't heard much about it and are therefore ruling it out? Because there have been scientific studies that link people with genetic predispositions to cancer a lesser tolerance in their body to fight asbestos. link below..I am BRCA1 carrier. Now I firmly believe, and God willing, I was not exposed to enough asbestos to ever get mesothelioma, but, that, or another type of cancer, it is a valid concern.
https://mesotheliomaresearchnews.com/2017/07/12/mesothelioma-cases-linked-to-mutations-in-dna-repair-genes-in-study/

I’m sorry that this has happened and has understandably created a good deal of stress for you. Of course you are right to safeguard your health.

You have gotten great information here, and the consensus is that you have little to worry about.

I would like to suggest, as compassionately as possible, that you might think about working on your anxiety. I personally have found that when I have been under a great deal of stress, I can tend to fixate on certain things. The thought processes you describe regarding the asbestos sound very familiar to me, and it might be that once the underlying anxiety is addressed, the feelings of urgency and panic will lessen.

I hope I haven’t overstepped here, and that you might consider addressing your well-being in this other way.

nekokat.. no, you are not overstepping at all and I appreciate you composing your post in a compassionate manner. I have definitely been stressing over having been exiled from my home after learning about the asbestos. It is written though, in many credible outlets, that you should not dust or vacuum (with a standard housekeeping vacuum) any dust that has asbestos in it. So now knowing there is asbestos in my house, it's hard to reconcile that fact with many posters saying I am blowing everything out of proportion.

You continue to look for disquieting information about asbestos, and to seek out inconsistencies from a jumble of disparate and even unqualified sources. I've concluded that there isn't anything more I can say to make you realize that you'll be fine and that the only solution is to stop obsessing. So, sorry, but I'm done commenting.

I appreciate your help kudzu, take care

I said I was done here, but after reading your more recent post, I think that you're never again going to be happy and comfortable in that house. You need to move, and the sooner, the better. If possible, find a place where you don't have such close neighbors. Get that stress and worry out of your life before it does more damage to your health.

David, if it were up to me, I'd clean that apartment and get the $^&$ outtake there! But my dad put up half the cash for it (I the other half). He doesn't understand, as I'm sure you all dont, lol , why I should move over this. My neighbor smokes which is pretty hard to take, too...I know construction dust happens everywhere but I would hope to find a building that follows the rules to atleast contain it... I've lived in apts for many years with no problems..until this..

That guy taking dust wipe samples w/o gloves and sticking them in his pocket without any container is a doofus. If he had just left a dfferent house with heavy lead dust contamination, his pocket is going to be contaminated, for one thing. I'm going to guess there was no chain of custody kept, either. Those results would never hold up in court.

I know that was lead dust sampling and not the topic of the thread, but just had to comment.

the definite doofus guy who took the samples without gloves gave me a negative result (not that I plan on going to court, anyway). I was just trying to say that, even though he gave me a negative air result, I couldn't trust the results because he totally ran the test wrong. The casual way he treated the lead wipe and tape sample was just an example of his incompetence. :-)

He doesn't understand, as I'm sure you all dont, lol , why I should move over this.

Actually, I do understand. That's why I recommended moving.

I really do think that the media fearmongering over asbestos has had real negative effects on people's health. Not the asbestos, mind you, but the fear of it.

Stress is undeniably bad for you. It has both an immediate effect and a cumulative effect I don't think you'll ever really be able to relax and enjoy life as long as you live in that place, and the stress could certainly damage your health.

The fact that the neighbor's smoking bothers you too just adds to it. I'm not a smoker either, though both of my parents smoked. Once I was on my own, I got used to clean air at home. For a couple of years, though, I lived in an apartment where the partition between my place and my neighbors' was poorly constructed. Their smoke often got into my apartment, and I hated it. That was one of the main reasons I finally moved, even though the landlord was great and the rent was cheap.

Show your dad this thread, and maybe he'll agree. Or just remember that it's YOUR life and YOUR health, not his.

thanks, david...although, I'm not so sure I should show him this thread since most of you guys agree with his position, lol..but seriously, yeah the smoking stinks..literally..as you know....the number of non-smoking buildings in my city happens to be growing..but they are still few and far between...that would be ideal for me, you and other non smokers..maybe I can find a non smoking apartment, or a little house with it's own HVAC, where no outsider's dust can penetrate...or maybe just a little plastic bubble .. :-) :-)

You can't totally seal a house, so outside dust ALWAYS gets in. Keeping the windows closed does slow it down a little, but you're still opening and closing doors. You bring dust in on your clothes and shoes. Your pets (if any) bring it in. Dust and pollution always find their ways in.

You'd be amazed at all the things that vent to the outside, and therefore, by creating negative pressure, bring in outdoor air through the inevitable air leaks every house has. They include your bathroom exhaust fan, kitchen range vent, clothes dryer, gas water heater, and a gas or oil furnace or boiler if it's not directly vented.

That's actually a good thing, because in a perfectly sealed plastic bubble, you'd eventually run out of oxygen and asphyxiate. (There are ways around this, but they're not really practical for normal living.)

But at least with your own detached house, you wouldn't have volumes of your neighbors' indoor air becoming yours.

ouqt84-

Why are you still in that apartment?

You keep typing here for 15 day since you made a post and all that time you being exposed to asbestos and dust from that remodeling. I would go and see a specialist and have yourself checked to make sure your lungs are OK out and right after that you have 2 choices.

1. Move into a bubble.

2. Forget about everything and get a hobby.

That said, there is more of a chance you getting hit by lighting than being exposed to anything from that remodeling project.

Good luck

I’d move just because of the smoker next door.

>That said, there is more of a chance you getting hit by lighting than being exposed to anything from that remodeling project.

There is certainly more of a chance of getting hit by lightning than getting lung disease from the project, which is the important thing. We're exposed to toxins all the time, but it's the dose and duration that determine the risk.

Thank you all for this post. I had a more risky situation in my home. My contractor husband actually pulled out tile and replaced it with laminate. I moved out for a month because of the anxiety, stress and fear. The fear that the web gave me was far worse than my husband pulling out the tiles. I had to go to therapy, which i suggest the OP do. I too had an air test done and was still debating the accuracy. I also spoke to the owner of the environmental company who was very polite and understanding and put my mind at ease. It sounds like the OP already came up with her own conclusion and there was no need to even write her concerns and questions here. I say that because I did the same thing. No mater what anyone said, I felt like i exposed myself and my children to asbestos and i was pissed. After going to therapy and my fear almost ruining my relationship, i finally let it go. Its good to be informed but i would suggest to trust that you are most likely going to be ok. The only thing you can do is 1) move or 2) move on.

There is no guarantee than any place you move would be any safer than where you are now. I am sorry your neighbor is a smoker, but, there is no guarantee against that either, even in a free standing home. Some places, houses are very close together, and people smoke outside, so you could get smoke in your house that way. I do agree, you may need to see someone for all your anxiety, since that is very hazardous to your health. Stress can cause very serious health problems. I wish you well.

Anxiety freak, I think I remember you posting here a while back.

anxiety freak, thanks much for the encouragement, and I agree I need to work on my anxiety about this, but why was your situation more risky? was there ever any asbestos containing materials in the flooring? After researching public records with an inspector, I have very good reason to believe that the asbestos found in my dust came from the illegal plumbing performed by the sleazebag contractor who was oversaw by my sleazebag management company (no licensed plumber involved since work was illegal). A violation was issued by city. Management promised me there was no asbestos in the units (no proof when asked). I recently learned, since permits and pre-reno asbestos clearances are public record, that the walls inside the units have aircell/asbestos wrapped pipes, which, according to my research, could contain 15%-25% asbestos!!???

so...since violation was for illegal plumbing and I know for sure they went into the walls to do it, there is a possibility that they illegally tore up asbestos insulated piping. I pray to GOD that is not the case, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities. my dust did test POSITIVE for asbestos after multiple cleaning with air scrubbers. and dust has permeated my life, my car., papers..etc...I can only hope and pray the amount of asbestos is negligible now, or, GOD willing, nonexistent.

The only truly informative testing would have been done during the reno. My air was tested during then by a fraud who had no license and no clue how to run the test. The EPA confirmed this. and who knows if he ran the test before they started ripping into walls? I wrote him recently and said give me back my $$ or I will report you to the DOL. He returned it without hesitation. He knew he had been caught.

so...all I'm saying is...yes, I do need to let it go..cant turn back time...cant be so bitter...but I'm in a tough spot because I will never feel safe there..lost about 15k in hotels and cleanings, etc... and because of a bunch of lowlive's unethical actions, I will never know my exposure level because I never reported it to the city who would have shut the job down IMMEDIATELY. my city doesn't mess around with asbestos. I just have to convince my father now to let me sell. People can tell me it's no big deal, but when you've had cancer, you don't want to take risks with your health. Health agencies say there is no proven safe level of asbestos exposure and that is the conservative approach I myself will take.

yes, I understand that there are allowable amounts of pipe wrap to be disturbed but it's a small amount...I hope that's all that could have been disturbed...hopefully, none was...