Worried about asbestos in your building? Find out if you're at risk.
If you suspect asbestos is present in your home, workplace, or a nearby building, your concern is valid. Asbestos-related diseases are caused by inhaling fibres, but the risk depends on whether fibres are actually being released, which depends on the condition of the material and whether it is being disturbed.
Intact asbestos materials that are in good condition and left undisturbed generally pose very low risk. The danger increases when materials are damaged, deteriorating, or being cut, drilled, or broken during work.
The first step is a professional inspection to identify whether asbestos is present and assess its condition. This will tell you whether you need to take action or whether the material can be safely left in place with periodic monitoring.
The Problem
Parents, teachers, and school staff concerned about asbestos in educational buildings represent one of the most sensitive situations in asbestos management. Children are more vulnerable to asbestos exposure, and public concern about school safety generates significant media and political attention.
Schools must be able to demonstrate that asbestos is being actively managed and that conditions are safe. A professional inspection with documented findings, followed by transparent communication with parents and staff, is the appropriate response to health concerns in educational settings.
What You Need
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wash asbestos off skin?
Asbestos fibres on the skin do not penetrate and are not absorbed. Washing with soap and water is sufficient to remove surface fibres, but the main risk is inhaling fibres that may be on clothing or skin.
How much asbestos is naturally in the air?
Background levels of asbestos in ambient outdoor air are typically 0.0001 to 0.001 fibres per millilitre, which is well below occupational exposure limits. These trace levels come from natural geological deposits and weathering of existing asbestos-containing materials.
Can washing machines remove asbestos from clothes?
Washing contaminated clothing in a domestic washing machine is not recommended, as it can release fibres into the air and contaminate the machine. Clothing exposed to asbestos should be disposed of as asbestos waste or cleaned by a specialist industrial laundry.
How to stop worrying about asbestos?
The only way to address asbestos anxiety with certainty is a professional survey. Do not rely on the common reassurance that 'undisturbed asbestos is safe' - this oversimplification ignores that deteriorated materials release fibres spontaneously through ageing, moisture infiltration, and vibration, without direct contact. A qualified surveyor assesses actual fibre-release potential, not just visual appearance, and establishes a monitoring schedule to detect future degradation.
Will 30 minutes of asbestos exposure hurt you?
Brief exposure to asbestos is unlikely to cause disease, as asbestos-related conditions typically result from prolonged or repeated exposure over months or years. However, there is no proven safe threshold, so any suspected exposure should be documented and medical advice sought if symptoms develop.
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