Although some asbestos has been removed from our homes over the past years, there are many thousands of tons of asbestos still present in our homes today. There still remains extensive repair and removal work, which will definitely continue for the foreseeable future. The main source of asbestos in our indoor air is located in our insulation products throughout our homes. Buildings that were built in the last 50 years were built with a variety of materials composed of asbestos mixed with other fibers like paper, fiberglass, or synthetic fibers and a binder, usually lime or gypsum mortar. Manufacturers utilized asbestos for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. Today, the most common domestic materials (in your home) that may contain asbestos are...
Furnace and Boiler insulation covering
Hot water pipe insulation
Tape at old furnace supply duct connections
Stove and transite flue pipes
Some exterior stucco
Attic insulation (usually vermiculite)
Artificial ashes and embers for use in gas-fired Fireplaces
Roofing mastic and asphalt composition roofing shingles and house siding material
Adhesive mastics for flooring, vinyl floor tiles ( usually the 9" x 9" tiles), asphalt floor tiles, and sheet vinyl flooring
Interior plaster and drywall joint patching compounds
Textured paints
Parts of some pre-1979 appliances (e.g. toasters, clothes dryers, hair dryers)
Asbestos was also used as a component of spray applied to textured ceilings. For many years, acoustic-ceiling (textured cottage cheese) was a standard feature in many homes, and until the late 1970's, asbestos was a common component of that ceiling material. Fortunately, this type of asbestos is not regarded as a significant health hazard unless it is disturbed (falling apart).
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