Asbestos Concern

[mw2530]

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.

 

[Outdated]

The dust is what is dangerous....

That's the most important thing to consider, and consider it in every single move you make with asbestos.

Wear a breathing mask while working with it.
Working on wet days is better, or hose it all down and wet it before you start working with it.

Best way to dispose of it is to bury it, but do it properly. At least 3 feet of clean soil covering to topmost part of your waste. Also mark this spot on a map so that future property owners know not to dig it up. Most farms keep such a map of their property showing where water and power lines are under the ground, a very handy thing.

 

[Grondhammar]

We had to do this when we moved into our home (1853 construction, updated in 1927 and 1941). You can get DIY test kits or official ones. The one we got had us swab three areas of concern and send it into a lab. I can't remember how much it was, and the prices have probably changed, if not test procedures. USD$20 - $25 it seems like. It'd be worth it sounds like for the particulate risk, just to be sure.

 

[Outdated]

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.

I missed this line the first time I read through - it's not a lot of material you're talking about here, so like your father I wouldn't be overly concerned. Certainly bury any pieces you can still find in the ash pile and bury them deep enough that they won't get exposed again in a hurry but don't go stressing over it so much.

It's not like the dust is radioactive or anything, it's just dangerous if you breathe too much of it in.

 

[the_tortoise]

Its also a good idea to paint over intact insulation boards to keep them from weathering -- keep the fibres sealed in.

There's asbestos everywhere in most Canadian buildings built before the 90's.

If you ever need to clean up dust that is too extensive to just wipe up with a damp cloth after mistint with soapy water, use a certified hepa vacuum with a disposable bag or container and good seals at every join. And like @Outdated said, wear a hepa mask. The disposable kinds are fine.

It's actually less concern to be breaking up asbestos containing materials outdoors because the airborne fibres will disperse rather than remaining at stready concentration in the same area of air-space, dispersing only very slowly with incoming and outgoing air. The less concentrated the fibres, the fewer around for you to breathe in, the lower the risk should be.

Asbestos isn't something you need to be terrified of if it's not friable, but you shouldn't trivialize the risk either. It's a thing that there really isn't any safe level of exposure for -- some people suffer absestosis or get asbestos-related cancers from very minimal exposures, but most don't; And others who are regularly exposed to quite a lot of it get lucky and never develop any related disease. The thing is you don't know which category you and anyone exposed might belong to so it is best to be cautious.

It isn't poison but because it is microscopic it takes a long time to settle once airborne and is easily kicked up into the air again when its all over the ground. The harm it does is mechanical -- when it gets into your digestive or respiratory system, it tends to persist, your body cannot break the fibres down easily or at all ...causing very very long-term inflammation and possible scarring, and with the tissue damage increases the risk of cancers.

 

[Outdated]

Its also a good idea to paint over intact insulation boards to keep them from weathering -- keep the fibres sealed in.

Excellent tip.

One of the cheapest and best options is a clear water based polymer coating used to seal concrete floors where ever internal floors are uncovered concrete - factories, car showrooms, etc. That stuff lasts for decades.