First off don t panic.
Asbestos siding dangerous your health.
What are some health concerns you need to be aware of related to the material.
Asbestos contained in siding known as cement asbestos is far less of a risk than when used in other applications as the asbestos fibers are bound within the siding s cement composition and can not be easily released into the air.
So is asbestos siding safe and what makes it dangerous.
Although the environmental protection agency epa states that asbestos is only a health issue if your siding is damaged or fraying simply covering it means that the asbestos will still be there and could pose a health risk later if parts begin to break off and become airborne.
The results of these studies have indicated that high levels of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers may cause a variety of pulmonary involving the lungs and breathing diseases.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.
The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.
Asbestos siding is far less dangerous due to the fact that it installed outside and very few fibers are released even when siding shingles crack and break.
Asbestos effects on health since the mid 1900 s many studies have been performed to determine the possible health effects associated with exposure to asbestos fibers.
However if your asbestos cement siding has deteriorated and is crumbling which releases the dangerous microscopic asbestos fibers into the air you should contact your county s health department or a certified building expert to determine the local regulations for testing and safe abatement.
It took decades to confirm that inhaling asbestos fibers were helping cause cancer more specifically mesothelioma and asbestosis.