I have some concerns regarding asbestos at my parent's farm. Does anyone here have knowledge/experience dealing with asbestos and the potential dangers/risks?
An old farm building fell down a year or two ago during a storm. Sometime after that, my brothers and I along with my dad spent some days pulling the building down. The building was not very large - it was attached to another larger shed that is still standing. We pulled the building remains to an area in an old pasture that we have used to burn up down trees/branches, etc. We recently had a fire to burn it along with trees that had fallen down the past few years. Vast majority of the fuel for the fire was dead or fallen trees, but the building was in there too. We believe that there was some rectangle shaped insulation boards that were in the fire which we suspect to have contained asbestos. There are a few of these insulation boards still attached to the outside of the still standing shed, but I believe two or three ended up in the fire. Size wise, guessing they were about 2x3 feet or maybe 3x4 feet size.
As I read more about asbestos risks, I learn that it is not dangerous unless it starts falling apart or it is disturbed. The dust is what is dangerous when it is disturbed, and the scary part is the dust is generally completely invisible when airborne. Fire does not get rid of the asbestos - probably is the worst thing you can do with it since it probably releases the fibers into the air. Health impacts can take decades before they appear.
The fire already happened so can't do anything about that. But I don't know if I should be concerned about the surrounding area being contaminated with dust now. My parent's house is probably only 300 feet from the fire. Wind was blowing somewhat towards the house during fire. Is dangerous levels of dust now in their house? Did it get on our clothes and shoes and bring it into the house or my car? Did it settle all over the pasture or in our yard? Is the remaining ash from the fire dangerous? I don't know so then I worry. I don't think asbestos is something to blow off or mess with. Nonetheless, my dad, with no concern in the world, said he took the tractor and pushed together the remaining debris that did not burn up. Likely kicking up the dust again.
My dad does not seem worried about it at all. My brother also does not seem very concerned, but I'm not sure he is aware of what the risks are. So ultimately it feels like I am the only one in the family who is thinking about it. I tend to catastrophize things, so I'm not sure if I am overblowing the situation. Not sure how much is my irrational brain or if there is actually a real risk to be concerned about. I'm just not sure what I should do, if anything. I usually go to my parents house once a week.
An old farm building fell down a year or two ago during a storm. Sometime after that, my brothers and I along with my dad spent some days pulling the building down. The building was not very large - it was attached to another larger shed that is still standing. We pulled the building remains to an area in an old pasture that we have used to burn up down trees/branches, etc. We recently had a fire to burn it along with trees that had fallen down the past few years. Vast majority of the fuel for the fire was dead or fallen trees, but the building was in there too. We believe that there was some rectangle shaped insulation boards that were in the fire which we suspect to have contained asbestos. There are a few of these insulation boards still attached to the outside of the still standing shed, but I believe two or three ended up in the fire. Size wise, guessing they were about 2x3 feet or maybe 3x4 feet size.
As I read more about asbestos risks, I learn that it is not dangerous unless it starts falling apart or it is disturbed. The dust is what is dangerous when it is disturbed, and the scary part is the dust is generally completely invisible when airborne. Fire does not get rid of the asbestos - probably is the worst thing you can do with it since it probably releases the fibers into the air. Health impacts can take decades before they appear.
The fire already happened so can't do anything about that. But I don't know if I should be concerned about the surrounding area being contaminated with dust now. My parent's house is probably only 300 feet from the fire. Wind was blowing somewhat towards the house during fire. Is dangerous levels of dust now in their house? Did it get on our clothes and shoes and bring it into the house or my car? Did it settle all over the pasture or in our yard? Is the remaining ash from the fire dangerous? I don't know so then I worry. I don't think asbestos is something to blow off or mess with. Nonetheless, my dad, with no concern in the world, said he took the tractor and pushed together the remaining debris that did not burn up. Likely kicking up the dust again.
My dad does not seem worried about it at all. My brother also does not seem very concerned, but I'm not sure he is aware of what the risks are. So ultimately it feels like I am the only one in the family who is thinking about it. I tend to catastrophize things, so I'm not sure if I am overblowing the situation. Not sure how much is my irrational brain or if there is actually a real risk to be concerned about. I'm just not sure what I should do, if anything. I usually go to my parents house once a week.
