When most people think of the dangers of asbestos, they think of hidden deposits in their walls, floors, and ceilings. But the most dangerous place you can find asbestos isn’t sequestered away in a wall; it’s in the air.
By their nature, asbestos fibres are flaky and prone to ending up airborne. They are at their most dangerous state there, because it makes it easier for occupants, workers, and anyone else on-site to inhale the small fibres. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t just take a few minutes for asbestos fibres to disperse once they’ve been disturbed.
So, how long does asbestos stay in the air, and what is the role of asbestos fibre counting in helping you manage any potential issues? Read on to have both of these questions (and more) answered.
How Does Asbestos Get in the Air?
Asbestos is not an altogether solid material. It’s technically a fibrous mineral, with little pieces flaking off as chunks are handled or disturbed. Asbestos is rarely found in its raw form. Instead, those fibres were incorporated into materials like gib or insulation (referred to from here on as asbestos-containing materials or ‘ACMS’) and installed in buildings all over the country.
Fibres from these materials can be released into the air at any time that they’re significantly disturbed. That might happen during:
- Renovations or home DIY jobs
- Demolition or construction work
- Drilling, sanding, cutting, or even just knocking around old materials
- Natural wear and tear, especially in older buildings
Some materials are more susceptible to disturbance than others, which is why we distinguish between friable and non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos is recommended for encapsulation or safe removal as soon as possible, while non-friable asbestos can sometimes be left in place and kept safe to prevent the release of fibres into the air (if possible).
How Long Does It Stay There?
So, the big question: how long does asbestos stay in the air once the fibres have been released? The short answer is: way longer than you might think. Broad estimates from asbestos fibre counting data indicate that the fibres can stay in the air for anywhere between 4 short hours and 80 hours. The reason there’s so much variance is that a few things can impact how long the fibres stick around.
Airflow is a big one. Poor ventilation means the fibres circulate in a given room rather than being blown away. Airflow isn’t always a good thing, though, as it can just spread the fibres further throughout an enclosed property.
How much was disturbed can also have a big impact here. If you’re doing a full-on demolition, you can expect more fibres to be released. A small disturbance is still risky, but much less so than destroying ACMS.
Some deposits of asbestos fibres are also smaller or lighter than others, which means they stay in the air much longer because they take more time to settle. That said, even after the fibres ‘settle’, fibres can be disturbed once again by the slightest air current. They’re a bit like glitter: once they’re out there, they’re tough to get rid of.
This is why professional asbestos fibre counting, survey, and removal crews come equipped with so much equipment to contain those fibres before they can spread.
What’s the Role of Asbestos Fibre Counting?
Since asbestos can be found in various materials and released into the air when disturbed, asbestos fibre counting is your secret weapon for monitoring the levels of the substance in the air.
We set up air intake machines that drag defined amounts of air across a filter designed to catch loose fibres, then send those filters into our lab to be analysed. This is where the ‘counting’ comes in. Under high-strength microscopes, qualified lab technicians carefully identify the type of asbestos in the air and count the number of fibres present in a given sample.
If that amount exceeds a defined threshold, then we know it’s time to halt renovation or demolition work until better control measures can be implemented. Since floating asbestos fibres are often so small that they’re invisible to the naked eye, this method of air intake and asbestos fibre counting is invaluable for everyone from renovating homeowners to professional demolition crews.
In summary, asbestos fibres can hang around in the air for up to 80 hours, and even once they’ve settled, they can be kicked up again once disturbed. This is why it’s vital to have the right testing team on-site, so you can monitor the air conditions and implement better controls should any loose fibres slip through.
Manage potential asbestos on your property safely with Consultex Labs.
Worried about asbestos fibres contaminating the air around your project site? Our team of qualified IANZ-accredited laboratory technicians is here to arm you with the right information to help you take the safest next step. If you’re concerned about asbestos on your property, or you’re about to start a demolition or renovation, book your test with us today.