Asbestos in the Home: 1989 EPA and CPSC

I get a fair number of requests focused on asbestos issues arising from older home construction. Given that this is not my sweet spot on the historical use of asbestos, I have linked at https://theasbestosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1989-Asbestos-in-Home-CPSC.pdf a 1989 joint publication by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission that is titled “Asbestos in the Home.” In my opinion, this should be the first stop for anyone in the United States, and maybe elsewhere, in order to get a basic understanding of the terminology and potential exposure.

That being said, I am not a believer in Do it Yourself identification and remediation of asbestos. There is just too much at risk, especially if you have kids at home and you want to sleep at night knowing they are protected. A few well placed dollars spent on an asbestos expert can put your worries to rest. This is especially true during the home purchasing process for homes most at risk as discussed in the publication.

My advice is to read the publication at the link. If you have any questions or concerns after doing so, bring in a professional. If you need some potential names, drop me a line for recommendations. There are a lot of qualified people doing good work in that area, including carrying around flashlights to inspect areas that the homeowner or home buyer may not generally have even considered.

Thoughts or comments? Let me know either in the comments or with an email to TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty