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aug_aug t1_jae59fs wrote

Some popcorn ceilings have asbestos in them, so you wet it down to avoid creating and breathing the dust. Soak it with a weed sprayer and it slops right off onto a tarp below.

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jnp2346 t1_jaej5as wrote

Asbestos stopped being used in commercial and residential construction in 1979. I usually say if it’s built after 1983 (some builders continued to use the products they had stockpiled), it’s highly unlikely to contain asbestos.

Additionally, most cities and even some towns have testing labs. You bring in a sample and they’ll test it for $30-50.

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fogobum t1_jaetr41 wrote

I fearlessly face your downvoting.

If you get a positive test, you become obligated to deal with asbestos in accordance with the law. If you use an effective respirator, use enough drop cloths, and thoroughly wet down the work area, you can claim a lack of mens rea, AND, there's no record of your iniquities.

WHEN ignorance is bliss, THEN it's folly to be wise.

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jnp2346 t1_jaeuqrp wrote

I used to work for a company that does asbestos abatement. The thing about asbestos is that the particles are ultra fine. Like pass through any filter that isn’t HEPA with ease.

So, if you try to abate it yourself without complete saturation of the media, you will end up with the particles hanging around for a long time.

Mesothelioma from asbestos comes about from long term exposure. Most people do not have a problem with short term exposure.

Point is, if you’re going to remove any material that might contain asbestos, you better make damn sure it’s really wet all the way through.

Odds are the OP’s building was built after 1979-83 anyway, so it’s probably not a concern. Side note, asbestos has not been phased out in some parts of the world. So that assumption is not necessarily valid outside the U.S. or Europe.

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kmpdx t1_jaevxn9 wrote

Also, protect yourself not to ingest asbestos into your GI tract. Don't get it in your mouth and swallow it because it can also provoke GI cancers

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