Asbestos Action Plan publishes general information about asbestos-containing materials, asbestos testing, and asbestos abatement. It is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and it is not a substitute for diagnosis, screening, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung disease, and the three major health effects associated with it are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis; symptoms may take many years to develop after exposure. If you have questions about your own health or your own exposure history, raise them with your doctor, who can take the full medical, work, and environmental history that identifying these conditions depends on.
We are not a trained or accredited asbestos inspector, we are not a testing laboratory, and we are not an abatement contractor; nothing here is an inspection, a sample result, or an abatement design. You generally cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, and material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed is usually best left alone. Sampling done incorrectly can release fibers and be more hazardous than leaving the material alone, so testing, and any decision to repair, enclose, or remove a material you suspect contains asbestos, should be confirmed with an accredited asbestos professional and with your state asbestos program, whose requirements differ by location.