Asbestos Myths Debunked: Separating Fact from Fiction

Myths, such as those that surround the subject of asbestos, are usually built upon misunderstandings, misinterpretations, misconceptions, misinformation, half-truths and/or outright fabrications. Occasionally these myths can be formed from information that was at one point accurate, but that is now out of date, or perhaps when information is taken out of context, misrepresented or based on unverified information. 

The issues start when myths take the place of facts, and they gain traction by being shared with other people. Not all myths are shared with bad intentions; often they can be shared because someone is trying to be helpful passing on information that they have heard, and in many cases the effects can be small and pretty harmless. However, there may be other times when believing this misinformation or myth can lead to incredibly serious consequences. For example, the myth of “no pain, no gain” when exercising, the fact/truth is “do not push past the pain” because ignoring any pain can actually lead to serious injury.

Whatever the reasons that these myths may have come into existence and are in circulation, it is imperative to separate them from the facts, particularly when there might be risks to people’s health if myths are believed over facts. The many myths surrounding asbestos are a prime example of this. The majority are untrue, unhelpful and potentially hazardous to people’s safety, so it is important to highlight these and to replace them with factual information. In this article we will look at some of the asbestos myths that are in circulation and separate these myths from the facts. 

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form fibres. Asbestos fibres are strong, heat and chemical resistant and do not dissolve in water or evaporate. The history of asbestos in the UK dates back to the late 1870s when the use of the material started, mainly on ships, steam engines and in power generating plants, and it was a building material which was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s including in domestic homes, non-domestic premises, schools and hospitals. In particular, it was widely used as an insulation and fire-proofing solution and could be found in such things as ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers, sprayed coatings and garage roof tiles. 

There are two sub-groups of asbestos:

• Serpentine (white asbestos)
• Amphiboles (including blue and brown asbestos)

Serpentine was the more commonly used in many products including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes, car brakes and floor tiles prior to use being banned due to the risks to health following inhalation exposure to asbestos. The importation of blue and brown asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1985. This ban was extended to include white asbestos in 1999; however, although no longer used, the legacy of asbestos remains in thousands of premises across the UK and in many countries worldwide.

It can be difficult to identify asbestos, as it is often mixed with other materials. As work on any type of asbestos can be dangerous, below are some examples of where asbestos has often been used. This can help to identify asbestos in typical locations.

Asbestos insulating board (AIB) was commonly used for fire protection in a range of locations including, but not limited to:

• Internal partition walls and bulkheads above ceilings
• Fire door panels
• Lift shaft linings
• Ceiling tiles
• External soffits under the fascia board
• Panelling surrounding windows

Asbestos cement is moulded and compressed to produce a range of asbestos cement products, such as:

• Cement roofs – made up of large profiled asbestos cement sheeting
• Wall cladding – similar to roof sheeting but can be flat and often found on buildings with asbestos cement roofs
• Downpipes and gutters – often attached at the end of cement roofs in warehouse type buildings
• Cement flues – sometimes found in boiler systems (including domestic), air conditioning and ventilation systems
• Water and sewage pipes – often made of pitch fibre, strengthened by asbestos cement

Other areas that may contain asbestos include, but are not limited to:

• Asbestos vinyl floor tiles
• Asbestos bitumen adhesive used to stick floor tiles down
• Asbestos paper-backed floor covering
• Composite (magnesium oxychloride) floor applied as a screed. Stair nosing can also contain asbestos
• Asbestos textured decorative coating
• Asbestos textured decorative coating on AIB ceiling panels
• Amosite asbestos rope packing beneath riser door frames
• Asbestos rope seal on drying ovens
• Electrical switches with asbestos string
• Asbestos gaskets
• Sprayed coating applied to the underside of joists above suspended ceilings, structural metal installations, car park roofs
• Thermal insulation or lagging
• Loose-fill asbestos in cavity insulation found in between cavity walls, under floorboards and in loft spaces

The versatility of asbestos meant that it could be found in materials that were used all over the home, both internally and externally. Asbestos was widely used as a construction material because it was a cheap material and because of its particular properties including being:

• Strong
• Sound insulating
• Heat insulating
• Fire protecting
• Resistant to chemicals
• Resistant to water
• Resistant to electricity

However, as popularity in its use peaked in the 1950s to 1970s, public awareness of the health hazards also grew, leading to the UK preventing some asbestos use in 1985, although asbestos was not fully banned until late November 1999. Since that date it has been illegal in the UK to buy, sell, import or export any materials containing asbestos.

Common Asbestos Myths

There are many myths and misconceptions about asbestos. Here are some of the most common ones that many people have long believed are facts:

• Because asbestos has been banned since 1999, modern homes will not contain asbestos
• Most asbestos has been removed from buildings in the UK
• There are different kinds of asbestos and some forms of asbestos, such as white asbestos, are safe
• It is easy to tell if a home or building has asbestos in it
• When buying a property, asbestos will be picked up by a standard survey so there is no need for a separate asbestos survey
• Living in a house with asbestos is too dangerous and it needs to be removed immediately
• The safest thing that you can do if you find that you have asbestos in your home is to remove it as soon as possible
• If you find asbestos in your home you don’t need a professional, you can remove asbestos from your home yourself
• Wearing a mask such as the dust masks that you buy in DIY stores, protects you from asbestos
• The dangerous effects of asbestos are highly exaggerated
• If you have been exposed to asbestos then symptoms of asbestos illnesses appear immediately and you feel ill after asbestos exposure
• If I have been exposed to asbestos then any asbestos fibres can be removed from my lungs
• Only people who work with or have worked with asbestos for a long time get mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma and asbestosis are the same disease
• Mesothelioma is lung cancer and only affects the lungs
• Mesothelioma is contagious
• There are no good treatment options for mesothelioma
• Asbestos was banned years ago so I don’t need to worry

These long-believed ‘facts’ about asbestos don’t exactly hold any truth, so let’s debunk them.

Debunking the Myths

Myth – Because asbestos has been banned since 1999, modern homes will not contain asbestos.

Fact – This depends on how you define modern. Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, so any homes that were built after this date will not contain asbestos. But if your home was built or renovated any time before this, there is a chance that asbestos will have been used somewhere. This is particularly the case with homes dating from before 1985, as asbestos was used extensively in house building up until that point when only a partial asbestos ban was implemented.

Myth – Most asbestos has been removed from buildings in the UK.

Fact – Asbestos is still present in many buildings in the UK. A 2022 survey carried out by Labour Research Department (LRD) found that only one local authority in a sample of 31 had removed asbestos from all of its premises. It revealed that many local authority premises still contain asbestos, including town halls, libraries and leisure centres. The survey found a total of at least 2,690 premises with asbestos, this was excluding schools and housing. These premises are owned by a sample of 31 local authorities in England, which is equivalent to nearly 10% of local authorities. On 21 April 2022, the Work and Pensions select committee published a report on the Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management that recommended a deadline be set for the removal of asbestos from all non-domestic buildings within 40 years, with government and the HSE jointly producing a strategic plan to achieve this.

Myth – There are different kinds of asbestos and some forms of asbestos, such as white asbestos, are safe.

Fact – There are six mineral types that are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as ‘asbestos’, and these are split into two main classes of asbestos:

• Serpentine (chrysotile, white asbestos), which was the most commonly used type of asbestos.
• Amphiboles, which includes crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite, of which crocidolite was the most commonly used.

All asbestos forms are dangerous as they are able to break down, and can cause:

• Asbestosis
• Malignant mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Other serious diseases

While it is true that blue and brown asbestos are considered to be more dangerous to human health, white asbestos is classified as carcinogenic and is also banned in the UK. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. The risk of developing an asbestos disease will increase with each exposure; however, even inhaling a few fibres can be dangerous.

Myth – It is easy to tell if a home or building has asbestos in it.

Fact – Asbestos was used in thousands of consumer products and building and engineering materials between the late 1800s and the late 1990s. Laboratory testing is the only way to confirm if asbestos is present; it cannot be detected with the naked eye. The only safe course is to treat all material that may contain asbestos as if it does contain asbestos. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have a useful asbestos gallery showing pictures of asbestos containing materials.

Myth – When buying a property, asbestos will be picked up by a standard survey so there is no need for a separate asbestos survey.

Fact – Asbestos identification cannot be presumed to be included in any other type of survey as only an asbestos survey carried out by a qualified asbestos surveyor will give you full peace of mind. The regulations relating to asbestos in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) do not cover residential premises so there is no legal requirement to undertake an asbestos survey when buying or selling residential premises. However, if you want full reassurance, get a full asbestos management survey pre-purchase. 

Myth – Living in a house with asbestos is too dangerous and it needs to be removed immediately.

Fact – Asbestos does not present a problem if it is in a good state of repair. It is the asbestos fibres that pose the risk to your health, so when these are intact and undisturbed it doesn’t pose a risk to you. If you suspect that your property contains asbestos and are concerned, seek specialist advice, as the asbestos assessor will be able to report the condition of any asbestos in your home. Also, if you are planning renovations or any sort of maintenance that might mean you would disturb the asbestos materials in your home, then these do pose a risk to your health, and should be removed by an HSE licensed asbestos removal company.

Myth – If you find asbestos in your home you don’t need a professional, you can remove asbestos from your home yourself.

Fact – Attempting your own asbestos removal, whilst not illegal, is not advised. The removal of asbestos is a specialised task that should only be carried out by qualified professionals. This is because asbestos fibres, which can be dangerous if inhaled, are easily released into the air during the removal process. By attempting to remove asbestos without being trained on the best practices of handling the material, you are more likely to allow the dangerous asbestos fibres to be released into the air. This not only puts you at serious risk of inhaling these extremely hazardous fibres, but it also endangers anyone who passes through the area for the foreseeable future. It is therefore highly advisable that you allow a specialist to remove your asbestos as opposed to completing the procedure yourself.

Myth – Wearing a mask such as the dust masks that you buy in DIY stores, protects you from asbestos.

Fact – Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. A dust mask that you buy in DIY stores will not provide the same level of protection from asbestos fibres as a mask specifically designed for that purpose. Dust masks are designed to filter out larger particles and are not effective at filtering out small asbestos fibres. However, asbestos masks are not the only form of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) that are needed when dealing with asbestos. The HSE provides detailed information on PPE and RPE required for dealing with asbestos.

Myth – The dangerous effects of asbestos are highly exaggerated.

Fact – The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified all forms of asbestos as being carcinogenic to humans. However, the presence of asbestos in the environment does not always lead to exposure as you must come into contact with the fibres. All forms of asbestos fibres are hazardous as they can induce cancer following inhalation exposure, but amphibole forms of asbestos (including blue and brown) are more hazardous to health than chrysotile (white). Mesothelioma has a strong association with exposure to asbestos and current evidence suggests that around 95% of all male mesotheliomas are attributable to asbestos exposures that occurred in occupational settings. There were 2,268 mesothelioma deaths in 2021, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos, and there were 537 deaths in 2021 mentioning asbestosis on the death certificate, excluding deaths that also mentioned mesothelioma. 

Myth – If you have been exposed to asbestos then symptoms of asbestos illnesses appear immediately and you feel ill after asbestos exposure.

Fact – Breathing in asbestos fibres may eventually scar the lungs of some people. When the dust is breathed in, the asbestos fibres enter the lungs and can gradually damage them over time. According to the NHS, it can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear and there are sometimes no symptoms. Symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath, which may only occur after physical activity at first, but it can eventually become a more constant problem
• A persistent cough
• Wheezing
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Chest pain
• In more advanced cases, clubbed (swollen) fingertips

You should see your GP if you have the above symptoms and you think you may have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

Myth – If I have been exposed to asbestos then any asbestos fibres can be removed from my lungs.

Fact – Asbestos produces a dust which contains sharp, thin fibres that the body cannot break down. The body will try to expel the fibres which become lodged in the lungs and it is this that causes damage to the lung. However, in the event of a one-time exposure, the odds of developing a life-threatening condition are low. If you think you have been exposed to asbestos it would be best to inform your GP. With symptoms taking between 20 and 30 years to develop, the initial immediate exposure may not be of urgent concern; however, a note will be placed on your file and they may request to monitor you.

Myth – Only people who work with or have worked with asbestos for a long time get mesothelioma.

Fact – The duration and frequency of asbestos exposure can impact an individual’s risk for mesothelioma. Although occupational exposure to asbestos is the most common way for someone to get mesothelioma, individuals may face secondary asbestos exposure. This type of exposure can occur when someone who had direct contact with asbestos brings home the fibres on their clothing or skin. Secondary asbestos exposure can also cause mesothelioma. Statistics from Cancer Research state that in the UK, exposure to asbestos causes:

• More than 95 out of 100 cases (more than 95%) of mesothelioma in men
• Almost 85 out of 100 cases (almost 85%) of mesothelioma in women

However, it should be noted that some people with mesothelioma say that they have no history of any exposure to asbestos.

Myth – Mesothelioma and asbestosis are the same disease. 

Fact – They are in fact not the same disease. According to the National Asbestos Helpline, mesothelioma is an incurable asbestos-related cancer that affects the mesothelium, the lining of several areas within the body. Individuals may inhale or ingest asbestos fibres, which then become embedded in organ linings. The fibres cause irritation and scarring over time, which may then cause cell mutation and cancer. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous form of pulmonary fibrosis where the lung tissue becomes thickened and stiff over a period of time, due to permanent scarring of the alveoli. Both of these conditions are caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust and fibres, but present themselves and affect the body in very different ways.

Myth – Mesothelioma is lung cancer and only affects the lungs.

Fact – Mesothelioma is often confused with lung cancer. However, mesothelioma is not lung cancer and does not only affect the lungs. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium which is a thin membrane that lines the inner surface of: 

• The chest wall and/or lungs where it is known as the pleura
• The abdomen where it is known as the peritoneum
• The heart where it is known as the pericardium
• The testicles where it is known as the tunica vaginalis

The most common form, pleural mesothelioma, develops in the lining of the chest wall and lungs (pleura). The pleural lining has two layers: the visceral (inner) layer is next to the lung and the parietal (outer) layer lines the chest wall. The pleura produces fluid that lubricates the space between the two layers. This allows the two layers to slide comfortably over each other as we breathe in and out. Pleural mesothelioma causes the pleura to thicken. This thickening of the pleura might begin to press onto the lungs or attach itself to the inside of the chest wall. In either case the expansion of the lung becomes progressively restricted by the tumour. Fluid, sometimes several litres, can collect between the two layers of the pleura; this affects the lungs’ ability to expand and causes the person to feel breathless. This is known as a pleural effusion. As mesothelioma cancer progresses, it may also spread (metastasise) to other tissues and distant organs.

An audit was conducted by The Royal College of Physicians and Mesothelioma UK between 2016 and 2018. Out of 7,210 individual patients diagnosed, 6,950 cases were pleural mesothelioma.

Myth – Mesothelioma is contagious.

Fact – Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person. The only definitive cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos is responsible for up to 9 out of 10 mesothelioma cases. There are thought to be other rare causes of the disease but none are fully understood at this time.

Myth – There are no good treatment options for mesothelioma.

Fact – The treatment for mesothelioma depends on a number of things including the type of mesothelioma, how advanced the disease is, the general health and fitness of the patient and their personal preferences. There are various treatments used to treat mesothelioma and control any symptoms including:

• Medication
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery

Some of these are given as part of a trial. Not all patients are suitable for every treatment. None offer a cure but they aim to minimise symptoms, maximise quality of life and, for some, lengthen life. Data from Mesothelioma UK on treatments received by mesothelioma patients showed that:

• 51% of patients had anti-cancer treatment
• 40% of patients had chemotherapy treatment
• 4% of patients had radical surgical treatment

Myth – Asbestos was banned years ago so I don’t need to worry.

Fact – Asbestos is the biggest occupational killer in the UK, beating falls, electrocution, workers being struck by objects, excavation failure and transportation accidents. Asbestos was a widely used material within commercial buildings, homes and machinery until 1999, when it was banned. This means that asbestos is still common in the general environment and there is considerable doubt that most of the asbestos that is to be found in buildings is going to lie undisturbed. 

Asbestos can easily be disturbed by drilling, hammering, replacing ceiling tiles, removing old insulation, or other common home, office or public building renovation projects. If you find something in your building that you believe may be asbestos, stop work immediately and clear the area. Anyone not wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection equipment (RPE) must leave the area immediately. Warn anyone who may be affected and identify the cause or source of the asbestos release. Notify your employer or the building owner who can arrange to send off materials for analysis. Official guidance from the HSE recommends that you wait for the official analysis to come back so that you can ascertain exactly what the material is, and take all of the necessary precautions. If the substance does indeed prove to be asbestos, you will need to determine if you need a licensed contractor to complete the work.

Misinformation surrounds asbestos, but by dispelling these myths, we hope to highlight the dangers of asbestos to help you stay safe around asbestos.

Health Risks and Safety Measures

Above we have discussed many of the health risks that are associated with asbestos exposure. To reiterate, there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. The risk of developing an asbestos disease will increase with each exposure; however, even inhaling a few fibres can be dangerous. Many of the illnesses that the asbestos fibres cause do not begin to present symptoms for as long as 40 years after exposure. These illnesses can include:

Pleural disease – pleural plaques and pleural thickening are non-cancerous conditions affecting the outer lining of the lungs (the pleura). Pleural plaques are small areas of scarring which have thickened on the pleura. They are usually about the size of a coin and can be present on one or both lungs. They become harder and more calcified over time. They do not cause any symptoms but are an indicator of asbestos exposure. Pleural thickening is a more serious condition. The patches are more widespread and both layers of the pleura may be involved. The lungs can be restricted by pleural thickening and not expand properly which may lead to breathlessness.

Asbestosis – this is a type of pulmonary (lung) scarring of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibres or dust, often through exposure at work. It is a benign (non-cancerous) condition. The body’s reaction to the asbestos fibres causes damage to the fragile air sacs in the lungs, making it more difficult for oxygen to get into the bloodstream which may result in breathlessness. Unfortunately, the lung damage caused by asbestos cannot be reversed and may continue to progress. Asbestosis can increase your risk of getting lung cancer.

Lung cancer – according to Cancer Research UK, lung cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the UK and it is recognised that being exposed to asbestos can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue. Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer. There are different types of primary lung cancer. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment you need depends on which type you have. If cancer spreads to your lungs from somewhere else in your body, it is called secondary lung cancer. People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos have a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Mesothelioma – this is a cancer of the lining of the lungs or, more rarely, the lining of the abdomen (known as peritoneal mesothelioma). Virtually all cases are believed to be caused by exposure to asbestos. There are approximately 2,500 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the UK each year. It is expected that this figure will continue to rise in the next few years. Some people have a much greater risk of developing mesothelioma because their exposure to asbestos has been much higher. This is usually linked to occupational exposure. Smoking and asbestos exposure do not seem to increase the risk of developing mesothelioma.

If you have any health concerns regarding exposure to asbestos seek immediate guidance from your GP or contact NHS 111.

Workers who are likely to disturb asbestos during their normal day-to-day work must be appropriately trained to work safely with asbestos or trained to be aware of it and stop work. They must also be provided with appropriate PPE/RPE.

During or after an uncontrolled release of asbestos, you may notice dust or debris on your clothing. It is critical for you to avoid inhaling the hazardous dust, as this is the main cause of asbestos-related diseases, some of which can ultimately result in death. If you have a little bit of dust on your sleeves or shoes the best thing to do is to wipe down your clothes with a damp rag. Dispose of rags as asbestos waste at an authorised centre and keep a detailed record of the event. 

If you have a lot of asbestos debris on your clothes, hair or footwear, the best thing to do is to stay where you are and put on respiratory protection equipment (RPE), if possible. Clothing contaminated with larger amounts of asbestos dust/fibres should be disposed of as hazardous waste.

Legal and Regulatory Aspects

In the UK, laws state that duty holders have an obligation to ensure that adequate assessments take place to detect and deter the risk of asbestos exposure. This should include taking reasonable steps to locate any harmful waste, as well as identifying the risk of anyone being exposed to asbestos. Risk-related regulations, legislation and guidance regarding asbestos include:

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) – these outline the duty to manage asbestos, and the responsibility to protect anyone using or working in the premises from asbestos fibre exposure. This regulation is further supported by Approved Codes of Practice, L127 Management of asbestos in non-domestic premises and L143 Managing and Working with Asbestos.

Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) – this places a duty on the employer (and premises duty holders to non-employees) to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and others who could be affected by its activities. Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) places a duty on employees to ensure their own and their colleagues’ health and safety and to cooperate with the employer so as the general duty can be met.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) – this provides a broad framework for controlling health and safety at work, including the need to assess and control significant or unusual risk, establish arrangements to manage risk and to provide access to competent advice.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) – the COSHH regulations require employers to prevent or control worker exposure to harmful substances using effective risk management and good control practices for hazardous substances. In people’s homes, the duty to manage asbestos under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations does not apply but COSHH regulations will apply

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) – exposure to asbestos is reportable under RIDDOR when a work activity causes the accidental release or escape of asbestos fibres into the air in sufficient quantity to cause damage to health. If work on asbestos is done without suitable controls, or precautions fail to control exposure, these are ‘dangerous occurrences’ under RIDDOR and should be reported. If you need to report a dangerous occurrence relating to asbestos, you should review your asbestos management plan or your working practices.

Asbestos is classified as a hazardous material and it must be handled very carefully. As a result of this classification, there are strict regulations governing all of the appropriate asbestos disposal methods, containment packaging and legal requirements. Asbestos waste, defined as containing more than 0.1% w/w (by weight) asbestos in the waste, is subject to the waste management controls set out in the Special Waste Regulations 1996. These regulations require the waste to be consigned to a site which is authorised to accept asbestos waste. This is enforced by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Do not put asbestos waste into the dustbin as this is an offence. Each local council has information available on where you can find a licensed asbestos disposal site.

Conclusion

In good condition, and if it is not disturbed, asbestos does not pose an immediate hazard to building users and occupiers. However, when disturbed or damaged it carries serious health risks via fibre release into the air. 

This has made the removal of asbestos a must when renovating or demolishing a building or premises, and a licensed, professional, trained contractor is usually the safest option for the purpose. Attempting to remove the asbestos yourself is very dangerous as you will inevitably disturb the fibres and these can then get into your lungs where they can do long-term damage. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not recommend the DIY removal of asbestos without advice, because of the risks of developing asbestos-related diseases. With asbestos-related diseases, prevention is much better than cure, as in most cases, there is no cure. Once you have been exposed to asbestos, it is too late to go back, as the diseases are irreversible.

If you find any asbestos which requires removal, you should contact your local council for more information about asbestos and its disposal.